Former drug dealer’s meth stash uncovered in raid at Toowoomba home

A couple fronted court after police raided a Toowoomba property uncovering at least $1000 of crystal meth in a leopard print bag alongside a list of names on a tick-sheet.

Toowoomba police raided Susan Nguyen and Shane Read, landing them in court in September 2024.

A Toowoomba couple have fronted court for possessing dangerous drugs after police raided their Newtown home uncovering their respective stashes.

Susan Bich Loan Lthi Nguyen and Shane Read were sentenced separately when they fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday, September 20.

The pair were charged after police executed a search warrant on their home in August 2024.

The court was told Nguyen, 44, was sentenced for dealing and possessing meth before the Toowoomba Supreme Court in 2017, where she was sentenced to an 18-month jail term.

Read’s criminal history included a prior entry for drug trafficking, the court was told.

When the pair were sentenced for their latest offences, police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb told the court during the raid officers found a tick-sheet in a leopard purse, along with 1.8g of crystal meth, a glass pipe, and scoop.

Nguyen, who pointed officers to the stash when they first arrived, said the tick sheet was from when she used to sell “crystal”.

Officers also located another 0.1g of meth which Nguyen said was hers.

Toowoomba woman Susan Nguyen

Read told the officers he had a loaded syringe with liquid meth and a small amount of cannabis which officers quickly located, as well as a bottle that had been crafted into a bong.

Mr Brewster-Webb said given the significant amount of meth Nguyen was in possession of, she might benefit from a probation order to help with her addiction.

The court was told the former Suncorp worker and modelling agent, who had a psychology degree, wouldn’t agree to a supervision order as she didn’t believe she had an issue.

The mother of four was dealing with extreme amounts of anxiety following serious issues with her physical health in 2024, the court was told.

Read, a former stockman and station worker and father of four, agreed to probation and expressed a desire to get clean.

The court was told Read was a former alcoholic and turned to drugs to cope after kicking the habit.

Toowoomba police raided Susan Nguyen and Shane Read, landing them in court in September 2024.

Acting magistrate Mark Whitbread noted Read’s criminal history showed he used to live a “wild life,” and commended his apparent genuine desire to address his addiction.

Mr Whitbread told Nguyen she better be as smart as she says, because contrary to what she might think people needed help and support to beat a meth addiction.

He warned Nguyen if she did not, it had the potential to ruin her life, just as it had in the past.

Nguyen pleaded guilty to possessing crystal meth, possessing a glass pipe and scoop, and possessing property used in the commission of a crime in regards to the dated tick-sheet.

She was sentenced to a two-month jail term, suspended for 12 months.

Read pleaded guilty to possessing liquid meth, possessing cannabis, and possessing a homemade water pipe (bong).

He was sentenced to a 12-month probation order.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Former drug dealer’s meth stash uncovered in raid at Toowoomba home