Nathaniel Robert Dawson, 22, to serve time for almost 3500 ‘Xanax’ tablets, prescription, illicit drugs

Trafficking almost 3500 fake Xanax tablets and a litre of “heroin slushie” has landed a young man in jail for at least a year.

The possession of close to 3500 fake Xanax tablets, a litre of “heroin slushie” and a wide range of prescription and illicit drugs have landed a young man in jail for at least a year.

Nathaniel Robert Dawson stood silent and almost frozen as District Court Judge Michael Burnett handed down his fate – which will see him serve a minimum of one year, and eight months in custody.

The court heard an expert phycologist determined Dawson’s offending had arisen out of his own addiction to prescription drugs, but his rehabilitative efforts had not mitigated his offending.

“During your record of interview, you disclosed you had an addiction to Xanax and consumed nearly 50 tablets a day,” Judge Burnett said.

Police seized thousands of fake Xanax tablets as part of the investigation. Picture: SA Police

“You have been abstinent from drug since your release on home detention at the end of April 2023 … I accept that you have gained better insight into your offending and are contrite.

“I consider the offending is too serious and the amount of the prescribed drug … the facts there was an element of profit, the fact the offending was not isolated and continued after your arrest … I decline to make an order to suspend the sentence.”

The court heard Dawson had been diagnosed with a number of mental health disorders, including general anxiety, ADHD, dyslexia and language and auditory processing issues.

Dawson pleaded guilty to trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug, four counts of trafficking in a controlled drug, ten counts of possessing prescription medication not drug of dependence and failing to comply with a bail agreement.

SA Police officers attended Dawson’s Craigburn Farm home around 7.30pm on December 18, 2023 and located five plastic resealable bags containing “rectangular shaped tablets embossed with the word Xanax”.

Nathaniel Robert Dawson remained silent and unmoved during the sentencing. Picture: Facebook

The court heard forensic analysis confirmed there were 3494 clonazolam tablets inside those bags, which would have been worth between $9000 and $13,000.

Police alleged that during that search a litre of liquid heroin, known as a “heroin slushie”, along with other drugs including Tramadol was also found at the address.

Cash totalling $10,750 was also found, and four nicotine vape pens.

The court heard Dawson was released on bail the same day.

Two days following his first arrest, police attended a Glenalta property to conduct a search.

Police found a number of tablets for a number of prescription and illicit drugs inside a bedroom used by Dawson.

The court heard that after searching his phone on both occasions, police found photos and screenshots of conversations and digital advertisements that included photos of the drugs alongside prices for sale.

Judge Burnett sentenced Dawson to four years, six months and 17 days imprisonment, with a non-parole period of one year and eight months.