Andrew John Fraser jailed for couriering $300,000 of cocaine and methamphetamine
His lawyer said he was at risk of death if sent to jail, but a Lower Mitcham businessman has faced the music for couriering more than $300,000 worth of cocaine.
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A businessman who couriered hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine and meth, and dealt to his friends, was part of a “highly organised, sophisticated and profitable” syndicate.
Judge Sophie David on Tuesday told the District Court that the kilogram of coke Andrew John Fraser, 47, trafficked in November 2017 would have been worth up to $315,000 on the street.
Fraser, of Lower Mitcham, who owns successful business FFD Painting Services, also picked up an unknown quantity of methamphetamine, taking the drugs to an associated place where they broke down the cocaine for sale.
He also consumed some of the drug at the same time.
He returned to the house on another two occasions to continue breaking up the haul – but he was not charged over those visits.
Fraser was caught on a recording device in the associate’s shed discussing the drugs.
He was also caught giving 3.54g of cocaine to a friend in March 2018 after he had given up using the drug.
Judge David said Fraser had become involved in the group after a work accident, which put him out of employment for 18 months and drove him to spend time at a local pub.
She said it was at the pub that he was introduced to cocaine by drinking buddies – eventually resulting in a $1500 a week habit.
It was due to a lack of money to fund his drug use that Fraser became involved in drug trafficking, she said.
Judge David described the group in which he was involved as “highly organised, sophisticated and profitable”.
Fraser’s counsel previously told the court he was at risk of death if sent to jail because he required regular treatment to prevent deep vein thrombosis, which he did not believe would be adequately provided for in prison.
They also submitted that he would not receive appropriate mental health care for depression and post traumatic stress disorder stemming from a failed surgery earlier this year.
Judge David accepted Fraser was unlikely to receive comparable mental health care in prison, but rejected that he would not be physically cared for.
Fraser was sentenced to three years, one month and 24 days behind bars with a non-parole period of 15 months.