David Gregory Randell sentenced for involvement in drug syndicate in Adelaide’s southern suburbs

A man who acted as an “Uber driver” for a major southern suburbs drug syndicate – and was paid in meth – has been jailed.

A man who worked as an “Uber driver” for drug dealers has been jailed after he became involved in a sophisticated syndicate to feed his methamphetamine addiction, a court has heard.

David Gregory Randell, 39, appeared in the District Court on Thursday where he was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug in 2021.

“You say that you did not receive cash for driving, but rather had the use of vehicles arranged for you,” Judge Joanne Tracey said.

“The culpability is lower than that of the (co-accused), all of whom have come before me for sentencing, your counsel argues that there is no involvement by you in the broader drug trafficking operation.

“You say that you were ultimately unable to fund your addiction and started to perform favours for acquaintances, often driving them to appointments because they did not have their licence.

“You told (the psychologists) you were paid in methamphetamine.”

Serious and organised crime branch police arrested Randell and several other men on November 24 and 25, 2021, as part of an investigation into drug distribution across Adelaide’s southern suburbs.

David Randell leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

During sentencing submissions last month, the District Court heard Randell transported 85g of methamphetamine, valued at up to $33,000, to his co-accused, Umar Ali Ubrahim.

Ubrahim, who pleaded guilty to eight counts of drug trafficking, was jailed for six years.

On another occasion Randell provided a parcel containing 993g of methamphetamine, valued up to $385,000 to another co-accused at the Hackham Shopping centre. His co-accused have been sentenced.

Judge Tracey said Randell reported stopping using drugs when put on home detention, before starting again.

“However, memories relating to your trauma returned, you have actively participated in various rehabilitation programs,” she said.

Some of the drugs seized by police when the syndicate in the southern suburbs was busted. Picture: SA Police

Cash was seized during the drug trafficking bust the southern suburbs. Picture: SA Police

Randell was sentenced for trafficking meth. Picture: SA Police

“Your addiction to methamphetamine, and your continued use up until very recently, despite the deterrence at play, is concerning.

“In my view, the seriousness of your offending and the need for any sentence to deter others from involvement in such offending weigh heavily against a sentence served on home detention.

“That you have not earlier managed to commit to abstinence, not withstanding the looming sentence, the obligations of home detention bail and the good behaviour bond means you must be considered unsuitable to serve a sentence on home detention.

“Placing you on home detention, in my mind, would be setting you up to fail.”

Randell was sentenced to four years and 23 days imprisonment with a non-parole period of 27 months.