Fake food delivery driver Raman Sharma pleads guilty to delivering opium and heroin to medi-hotel

A fake food delivery driver has admitted ferrying drugs to a medi-hotel – and his substance of choice has bemused a magistrate.

A fake food delivery driver has caught a magistrate’s curiosity by confessing to his role as a drug mule due to the rarely-seen illicit substance he was carrying.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Raman Sharma pleaded guilty to one count of possessing controlled drugs.

He admitted he delivered food bags to the Pulman medi-hotel that contained heroin and opium – prompting a surprised response from Magistrate John Wells.

“We don’t see a lot of opium in the courts these days,” he remarked.

Andrew Culshaw, for Sharma, agreed the matter was unusual.

“Much will be said about that at sentencing submissions,” he said.

Raman Sharma outside court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Sharma, 30, of West Hindmarsh, was originally charged with three counts of possessing a controlled drug following his arrest in October 2021.

Previously, the court heard Sharma arrived at the CBD hotel carrying two food bags, claiming he was delivering meals ordered by a person in isolation.

He dropped off the bags and left but, after finding neither receipts nor names attached to them, police searched their contents and found the drugs.

Sharma was arrested at his home the next day.

On Tuesday, Mr Culshaw said prosecutors had agreed to combine all three charges against Sharma into a single count.

Sharma then pleaded guilty – Mr Wells remanded him in custody to face the District Court in November, when a date for sentencing submissions will be set.