Trafficker’s guilty plea

Jail time an option for woman who stashed drugs in hidden pipes

A WOMAN who was involved in a drug dealing operation that used buried pipes as stash points for drugs and cash could be facing jail time, the Supreme Court in Hobart has heard.

Shannon Myree Arnold, 32, of Mornington, pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphet- amine. The court heard Arnold was a sub-dealer in an operation where drugs and cash were exchanged by one person secreting them in a hidden pipe to be collected by another.

Crown prosecutor Jane Ansell said police observed Arnold using a pipe buried in pine forest near Seven Mile Beach in 2015.

Ms Ansell said Arnold also had two other pipes, one near the first pipe and another at Rosny Hill, that she used for herself.

Ms Ansell said five people were charged over their alleged involvement in the operation.

The two alleged ringleaders remain before the court.

Ms Arnold’s lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi said his client was in a relationship with one of the other alleged dealers and he manipulated her to get involved in the operation.

“She was assisting someone who she thought she loved, someone who abused her trust and took advantage of her weaknesses,” Mr Cangelosi said.

He said Arnold no longer associated with the man.

“Ms Arnold has made significant progress psychologically,” Mr Cangelosi said.

“She is remorseful for her actions.”

Chief Justice Alan Blow said he did not know whether he would jail Arnold or not.

The Chief Justice continued Arnold’s bail and remanded her to reappear on April 4 for sentencing.