Law student jailed after police bust her drug trafficking business

A female law student on the cusp of graduating has been jailed after she was busted operating a profitable drug trafficking business.

The case was heard in Brisbane Supreme Court.

A law student on the cusp of graduating has been jailed after she was busted operating a profitable drug trafficking business on the Gold Coast.

The Brisbane Supreme Court heard the full extent of Shanelle Lavinia Eugster’s drug enterprise was unknown because she had used encrypted messaging applications to arrange methylamphetamine sales.

Crown Prosecutor Christa Nicola said Eugster had at least 15 customers whom she sold drugs to, with police uncovering evidence of at least 58 transactions between May and October 2022.

Eugster, 33, pleaded guilty on Monday to trafficking dangerous drugs over a five-month period in 2022.

She also pleaded guilty to six counts of supplying dangerous drugs prior to the trafficking period, relating to sales of street level amounts of methylamphetamine between January and April that year.

“During the trafficking period she supplied in street level amounts between one gram and 3.5 grams, however it wasn’t unusual for her to supply a quarter of an ounce being seven grams,” Ms Nicola said.

“And she did have access to higher amounts being that she sourced 28 grams and she’d on-sell it in street level amounts to customers.”

Ms Nicola said Eugster had a relevant criminal history which included entries for drug and weapons offences.

“She utilised encrypted telephone messaging applications and as such the true nature of her business cannot be reconciled,” the prosecutor said.

“It’s also evident from the material that she sold on tick and she was constantly chasing people for drug related debts.”

When police raided Eugster’s home they found 13 grams of pure methylamphetamine in 18 grams of substance, clip seal bags and scales.

Defence barrister John Fraser said Eugster had been studying a double degree in law and commerce and was just two credits shy of graduating.

Mr Fraser said Eugster was employed in the landscaping industry, looked after an ill family member and had shown “genuine remorse and contrition” for the offending.

He said given Eugster’s early plea, employment and efforts at rehabilitation, the court could impose a sentence that did not require her to serve time in custody.

Justice Glenn Martin sentenced Eugster to four years’ imprisonment, to be suspended for five years on December 25 this year.