Sebastian Penning jailed at Gladstone for drug trafficking

Details of how a Central Queensland drug dealer ran his trafficking operation like a business - and a look inside his customer base - have been revealed before he was put behind bars.

Sebastian Willem Gaiten Penning, 25, was jailed at Gladstone after pleading guilty to trafficking dangerous drugs. Generic image.

A Central Queensland drug dealer who ran his trafficking operation like a business and bragged about making $100,000 a year, has been jailed.

Sebastian Willem Gaiten Penning, 25, was sentenced in the District Court at Gladstone after pleading guilty to trafficking dangerous drugs and two counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

The court heard that on September 1, 2023, police executed a search warrant at Penning’s home which included an order to access his electronic devices.

Penning co-operated and gave police access to his phone.

A review of that phone revealed Penning had been trafficking cannabis between January 5, 2023, and September 2, 2023.

It also showed that he had twice engaged in acts preparatory to the supply of MDMA.

The court heard Penning ran his trafficking operation like a business and he had a business strategy.

He had employees selling cannabis on his behalf, and conversations with his clients discussed sourcing of the drugs, the quality of drugs for sale, and security arrangements.

Penning actively sought new customers.

He also advertised deals and different products to his customer base.

Gladstone Courthouse.

The court was told Penning conducted business on “various and multiple” social media platforms.

Police analysis uncovered 61 actual cannabis supplies, 17 acts preparatory to the supply of cannabis, and 26 occasions where Penning offered to supply cannabis.

The court heard Penning had 30 customers - including one who was a school student - and he bragged to others about making $100,000 a year “selling weed.”

Penning often supplied on credit to customers who would “on sell” and then pay back their debts.

The court was told Penning regularly “chased” outstanding debts from customers and threatened to stop supplying them with cannabis until their debts had reached an agreeable limit.

It heard Penning had a “limited and irrelevant” criminal history and his drug trafficking also supported his own drug habit.

Barrister Julie Marsden said while Penning had bragged about making $100,000 a year from selling cannabis, in reality the figure over the eight-month trafficking period was much less and Judge Amanda McDonnell accepted it was more like $30,000.

Ms Marsden said Penning, an unemployed single father of one with a second child on the way, grew up in Gladstone and he had a difficult childhood and a traumatic upbringing.

The court heard Penning left home at 14 and he was that age when he started using alcohol and cannabis.

Judge McDonnell said the appropriate sentence “must” deter Penning and others from committing this type of offence.

She sentenced Penning to two years and nine months’ jail, fixing parole release at January 11, 2026.

Convictions were recorded.