No jail time for drug dealer

A POLICE operation launched in April 2021 targeting drug trafficking in Cairns shook out a number of larger traffickers and lower-level street dealers.

Arethea Reina Lucy Cedric, 37, appeared in Cairns District Court on Friday as a result of the detectives’ work, which monitored phone calls and conducted intercepts in Cairns.

She pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis, trafficking cannabis, possessing a mobile phone in connection with the commission of trafficking a dangerous drug, and possessing pipes in connection with smoking a dangerous drug.

The court was told a man codenamed “Wanders”, based interstate, brought large quantities of cannabis to Queensland and sold to another man, David Heard, who in turn onsold to at least four “streetlevel” dealers, Cedric among them.

Crown prosecutor Emily Thambyah told the court Cedric had her own base of at least 37 customers, and over nearly eight months to July 2021 she sourced 1.4kg from Heard.

During that period she received $16,282 into her bank account, Ms Thambyah told the court.

The court was told Heard’s minimum turnover was estimated at $658,000 and he was sentenced in August to five years’ imprisonment, partly suspended, on one count of possessing and one of trafficking dangerous drugs.

Police executed a search warrant at Cedric’s home on July 6, 2021, after which she continued to traffic cannabis until August 21 when police again searched her home.

Ms Thambyah told the court Cedric’s offending was“slightly more serious than a typical street-level trafficking”, because she had continued to sell after the initial search and because it was commercially motivated.

She said the money deposited in Cedric’s account over that period was consistent with her commercial dealing.

Defence counsel Kelly Goodwin agreed with submissions made by the prosecution and his ultimate submission was that Cedric should be released on parole immediately.

He named the large number of Cedric’s supporters in the court, including one aunt with the Amaroo Community Justice Group. “It is clear by the sheer number of people, she does have community and family support, it’s not just a flash in the pan for today,” he said. “If she is released into the community it will ensure she does not relapse.”

Judge Tracy Fantin welcomed Cedric’s supporters.

She sentenced Cedric to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended.

“Sending you to prison today would be completely counter-productive,” she said.

Scales, pipes and $50 cash were forfeited, and the judge signed a serious drug certificate.