Romeo Cavaiuolo accepted ingredients for $1m of meth, claims he ‘feared for his life’

A father of four who imported enough chemicals to make $1m worth of meth did so only because he feared for his life, a court has heard.

A man who admitted to importing chemical ingredients that could produce $1m of meth is expected to take the stand to say he did so only out of a “fear for his life”.

Father of four Romeo Cavaiuolo, 31, who was previously commended in 2019 for helping save a mother and daughter from a fire, faced District Court on Friday after pleading guilty to state and federal drug charges.

Cavaiuolo appeared before Judge Rauf Soulio to tender evidence in preparation for his sentencing for importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled precursor and trafficking in a controlled drug.

Prosecution for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions submitted to the court that after directing two shipments of 6.5kg of pseudoephedrine to his partner’s mother’s home address, Cavaiuolo should receive no less than three years in custody. Cavaiuolo’s family is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Romeo Cavaiuolo in 2019 when he came to the aid of a mother and her two-year-old child who were in a burning house. Picture: AAP Image/Morgan Sette

“Any other sentence would not be a sentence of appropriate severity and is beyond the proper exercise of the court’s discretion … the court would risk falling into appellable error,” prosecution said.

Judge Soulio responded that it was a “bold submission”.

The court heard if made into methamphetamine, the quantity of pseudoephedrine would have produced more than $1m worth.

The charges arose from a joint Australian Border Force and SAPOL interception of two package consignments in 2022 – and a subsequent search of Cavaiuolo’s Tapleys Hill home.

Commonwealth prosecutors submitted that text message threads showed Cavaiuolo “wagering” the costs of the delivery, which showed he was not operating under duress.

However, counsel for Cavaiuolo said he had agreed to take part in the operation because he “feared for his life” and had been the victim of an alleged assault – allegedly witnessed by his family.

The court heard Cavaiuolo was allegedly assaulted in front of his family and agreed to participate in the drug operation because he “feared for his life”. Picture: Supplied

State prosecution, dealing with the 23.8g of methamphetamine found in Cavaiuolo’s bedroom – alongside $11,305 cash – said he should be sentenced on the basis he is a serious repeat offender.

The court heard Judge Soulio was minded to consider the two offences before the court as “separate incursions into criminality” – alongside a prior conviction for assault causing harm – and agreed with the prosecution submission.

But defence rebutted the submission and said they should be treated as a single instance, and Cavaiuolo was not a repeat offender.

Judge Soulio noted there were contested facts in the matter, and adjourned so both parties could prepare for further submissions – including Cavaiuolo taking the stand himself.

The matter will return to court in September.

Originally published as Romeo Cavaiuolo accepted ingredients for $1m of meth, claims he ‘feared for his life’