Wexford man gets nine years for drug dealing in Australia
A 26-year-old Wexford man has been sentenced to nine years after admitting being the brains behind a mail-order cocaine ring which involved using forged drivers’ licences to wire money to contacts overseas who would then courier the drugs to Western Australia.
Liam Driscoll, 26, and Brian Thomas Foley, 24, both from Wexford, arrived in Western Australia looking for an escape from the recession in Ireland, and thought they had found it by organising DHL courier packages carrying 250g consignments of cocaine to be posted to Perth, the city’s district court was told.
Driscoll was sentenced last Friday, while Foley will be sentenced in January.
Speaking during the sentencing hearing, Judge Stephen Scott said he disagreed with comments by Driscoll’s counsel ‘ that the enterprise was not very sophisticated’.
‘You came to this country and then proceeded to be a prime mover in an enterprise designed to import cocaine for distribution in the community for commercial gain... you and others with you avoided detection for more than two years by documenting payments to suppliers overseas as being for legitimate purposes and later by using false identification, in the form of a forged Victorian driver’s licence.
‘ The cocaine was imported in a way so as to avoid detection by the authorities. The mere fact that you and those with you avoided detection for so long indicates that the level of sophistication enabled you to be ahead of the authorities,’ said Judge Scott.
‘In mitigation, you cooperated with police. You’ve pleaded guilty on the fast-track system, which recognises your insight into and acceptance of your culpability and you are entitled to a discount’. The judge sentenced Driscoll to nine years for the offences, but said he would be eligible for parole after serving six years for State offences with a separate six month Commonwealth sentence for dealing with the proceeeds of crime.
‘What it means in real terms, Mr Driscoll, is that the minimum term that you will need to serve is one of six years, six months. That takes into account the six years for the State sentences before you’re eligible for parole and then after that the six months on the recognizance release order,’ said Judge Scott.
‘Since you’ve been remanded in custody you’ve been able to gain insight into the inherent dangers of cocaine and the impact which your conduct has had on others and you say that you have a commitment to remain drug free, and I don’t doubt any of that,’ said Judge Scott.
‘ The psychologist reported that you have suffered depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol dependence, prompted primarily by the effect of the deaths of your friends and family member. The psychologist observed that you are genuinely remorseful and ashamed of your behaviour, the subject of the offences which you have committed, and I don’t have any reason to reject that observation,’ said the judge.
The court was told last week how, between 2013 and 2015, nearly $200,000 (€140,000) was wired out of Australia by Foley, Driscoll and Driscoll’s girlfriend Blaithin McCourt, and in return drugs were sent from Ireland and China.
The pair believed they had ‘struck it rich’ and evaded authorities for more than two years until Border Force officials discovered the enterprise.
That triggered a police operation which at one point involved a ‘random’ traffic stop which was actually targeted to get more information about the drug trafficking ring.
One of the cocaine packages was intercepted in September 2015. The drugs were removed and the package sent to its destination, Foley’s home in Rivervale, in Perth, where he and Driscoll were arrested.
Last week, the pair admitted to money laundering, importing cocaine and conspiracy to import more.
McCourt admitted money laundering after the court was told she followed Driscoll’s instructions to wire thousands of dollars out of the country after being told the cash was for gym equipment.
Prosecutor Nick Cogin said that while the men were not criminal masterminds, their long-term operation involved a ‘significant amount of drugs on a regular basis’.
‘ This was more than a couple of blokes going on to a website... this is overseas contacts...false drivers’ licences. And these blokes did outsmart the police for quite some time,’ Mr Cogin said.
He said McCourt was criminally negligent for not asking her partner what the money was for when she knew he was personally using increasing amounts of cocaine.
Neville Barber, representing Driscoll, said the drug importation was prompted by tragedies in Driscoll’s life, including the suicide of a friend and a cousin.
‘In essence, once he commenced this enterprise, it all seemed too easy,’ he said. Driscoll’s sentence will be backdated to September last year.
Sentencing McCourt, for dealing with the proceeds of crime, the judge said there were in all 12 outgoing international funds transfers which were matters ‘about which you were involved totalling nearly $50,000 (€35,000).’
‘ Those funds were remitted to China and Ireland and they were funds that were as you now know to be utilised for the purposes of purchasing drugs for distribution into the community.
‘ The State accepts for the purposes of sentencing you that your then partner, perhaps current partner, Mr Driscoll, lied to you about the purposes for each transfer telling you that it was for the purchase of legitimate items; clothing and gym gear.
McCourt was sentenced to 12 months, however, the judge said she would be released upon entering into security in the sum of $2,500 (€1,750) by way of a recognisance that she would be of good behaviour for a period of 12 months.
Foley will be sentenced in January.