Natalia Babeshoff jailed after being caught with drugs during a traffic stop
A young woman's drug dealing hotel operation was uncovered after she was busted with thousands of dollars worth of meth and heroin hidden in her pants.
North & North East
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A cleaner who concealed thousands of dollars worth of drugs in her pants has been given a chance to turn her life around once she is released from jail.
Natalia Babeshoff, 25, was in the grips of a methamphetamine addiction when police found more than they bargained for on March 15, 2020 at Pooraka.
The Adelaide District Court heard the car Babeshoff was a passenger in was stopped after a littering offence.
The car was searched and police found 14.3g of methamphetamine and 8.2g of heroin concealed in Babeshoff's pants.
The value of the heroin was between $4100-$12,300 and the methamphetamine was valued between $5700 and $7100.
The court heard police also found an ice pipe, resealable bags and $4300 during a search of her hotel room.
The court heard Babeshoff was on home detention for 45 days before cutting off her home detention bracelet in December, 2020.
She has been in custody since January, 2021.
Judge Heath Barklay said he did not “necessarily accept” Babeshoff’s explanation that she was transporting the drugs for someone else.
The court heard Babeshoff had told police initially that she had won the cash found on the pokies but later agreed it was proceeds of crime.
Babeshoff, of Hillbank, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking.
Michelle Barnes, for Babeshoff, previously told the court she was in the grips of a drug addiction at the time of the offending.
“She has, since being in custody, effectively gone cold turkey,” she said.
“Her strong desire is to continue to remain free of substance abuse, she’s no longer in a relationship with that partner with whom she was using drugs.”
The court heard Babeshoff had a good work history, including working as a cleaner, and had aspirations to work in the aged care sector.
Judge Barklay sentenced Babeshoff to three years and three months jail, with a non parole period of 14 months.
He said he hopes Babeshoff continues to rehabilitate herself and go back to living a "law abiding, productive life".
The sentence was backdated to January 19, 2021, meaning Babeshoff will be eligible for parole next week.
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