Andrews Farm boy faces court charged with attempted commercial drug trafficking

At just 15, a northern suburbs boy is the youngest known South Australian to be charged over mass drug dealing. He is the first known youth charged over it since 2016.

A northern suburbs boy has become the state’s youngest ever person known to have been charged over alleged mass drug dealing.

The 15-year-old Andrews Farm boy, who cannot legally be identified, on Friday faced the Elizabeth Youth Court on the charge of attempting to traffic a commercial quantity of drugs.

The charge, if proven, can carry with it a 25-years behind bars, or a fine of $200,000, or both.

It is one of the most serious charges that can be laid under South Australian state law in relation to drug trafficking.

According to court documents, police will allege the boy was arrested at Andrews Farm on September 20 this year and subsequently charged with the alleged offence.

A stock photo of a drug deal. Picture: iStock

The boy – who The Advertiser understands attended a northern suburbs private school – becomes the first known youth to be charged with commercial drug trafficking since July 2016.

Until now, that teen, who eventually pleaded guilty to trafficking, was the youngest known person to be charged over alleged mass drug dealing.

That boy was committed to the state’s District Court to face the courts as an adult, after a request was made by Commonwealth prosecutors to use his case to deter other youths from setting themselves up as dealers.

He received a three-year suspended prison term.

In May this year, 18-year-old Dylan Daniel Bradwell became, until now, the second youngest known South Australian to be charged with commercial drug trafficking.

He will next face court on the charge later this month.

The Andrews Farm boy has entered no pleas to the charges and will next face court in February.