Shakira Skye Collins pleads guilty to trafficking and supplying marijuana
A young former waitress made more than $40,000 running a ‘prolific’ marijuana business while living in her parents’ suburban home.
Police & Courts
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A former waitress was making up to $1400 a week for two years running a marijuana business while living in her parents’ Andergrove home.
Shakira Skye Collins, 23, bought the marijuana on tick and sold it daily racking up between $50 to $100 profit per ounce.
Mackay District Court heard the former waitress made about $400 a week but during peak periods would sell between 12 to 14 ounces (340-397g) a week, taking home up to $1400 for herself.
Crown Prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said the money Collins made went back into buying marijuana for personal use, living expenses and, on occasion, holiday accommodation.
The court heard Collins began selling marijuana in June 2018 when she was just 20 years old, with her most recent deal two years later in June 2020.
“It was for a long period, it was prolific,” Ms O’Rourke said.
“It was commercially motivated, because she didn’t just buy her own drugs with the money she made.”
The former waitress was caught when police raided the Andergrove home where Collins lived with her parents, finding several marijuana plants.
Ms O’Rourke said Collins had admitted to police she helped her father to grow the illegal plants.
Defence barrister Scott Mclennan told the court Collins had struggled with diagnosed PTSD and bipolar for years and had begun self-medicating with marijuana when she was age 15.
Mr Mclennan said when Collins was 16, her father suffered a stroke and her mother became his full-time carer.
He said the family was surviving on Centrelink payments.
While Collins worked as a waitress and as a cleaner, she developed carpel tunnel syndrome in her hands, restricting her from continuing in her job.
“The proceeds of the trafficking went to fund Ms Collins’ addiction and also for some general living expenses in circumstances where the family was in dire financial straits,” Mr Mclennan said.
Collins pleaded guilty in Mackay District Court on February 8, 2022 to unlawfully trafficking and producing marijuana.
Judge Julie Dick said she accepted Collins’ had endured some difficult circumstances but advised she continue to seek medical help.
Collins was sentenced to two years jail with immediate parole release.
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