Shrishneil Prassad: Seven Hills man convicted of drug supply

A recommendation from a friend to deal drugs through a dial-a-dealer syndicate landed an expectant father before the courts.

An out-of-work tradie has blamed COVID on his turn to drug dealing to support his pregnant partner.

Shrishneil Prassad, 27, admitted to dealing cocaine through a ‘dial-a-dealer’ syndicate after he was caught selling bags of drugs in the eastern suburbs last year.

The Seven Hills man faced Blacktown Local Court on Tuesday on charges of supplying a prohibited drug and dealing with proceeds of crime.

Shrishneil Prassad, 27, leaves Blacktown Court after being convicted of selling cocaine through a dial-a-dealer service.

The court heard Prassad, a qualified plumber, had been working in a warehouse when work dried up during the pandemic last year. Struggling to pay rent, he was recommended a dial-a-dealer site from a friend. After some internet searches, Prassad bought drugs from a middle man to on-sell for profit.

His defence lawyer told the court his drug dealing was driven by “need rather than greed”.

Police documents revealed Prassad was found with eight bags, or 5.7 grams of cocaine after he was nabbed by plain clothes police doing a deal in Bondi Junction on November 27 last year.

Prassad was caught by undercover police selling cocaine in Bondi Junction. Picture: Steven Saphore

Officers also found $2150 in cash, which Prassad admitted was from the sale of drugs.

He said he used Snapchat to advertise his cocaine for sale, at a rate of $500 for two bags.

During sentencing, Magistrate Michael Antrum asked Prassad why he delved into the “horrible and dirty industry of drug supply”.

“First of all you have a child in the way and second of all you have a trade. I understand COVID had created some hiccups and the desperation some people have felt during the pandemic … but why would you make it even tougher by engaging in the miserable supply of drugs to people through the dial-a-dealer scheme?” he said.

Mr Prassad was found with eight small bags of cocaine. Picture: Generic

“It’s a horrible industry and it reigns misery on people. If you met the people who run these shows, you would want nothing to do with it.

If you met the ‘Mr Bigs’ at the top, they are horrible scum of the earth.”

Prassad was placed on a Community Corrections Order for 12 months and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. He was also fined $330 for failing to appear at court on a prior occasion.