Electrician Pronoy Narayan, 31, sentenced for commercial drug supply

A Canberra electrician busted with around $220,000 worth of cocaine in his car has told a judge that getting caught was “probably the best thing that’s happened to (him)”. Find out why.

An electrician busted with around $220,000 worth of cocaine has said being caught was “probably the best thing that’s happened to (him)”.

Pronoy Narayan, 31, appeared at Goulburn District Court on Thursday after previously pleading guilty to supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and driving a motor vehicle with an illicit drug present in his blood.

Documents tendered to the court state that on Thursday May 13, 2021, the Canberra local was found driving with 832 grams of cocaine by highway patrol police.

Pronoy Narayan, 31 appeared at Goulburn District Court on Thursday. Picture: Facebook

They were monitoring his white Toyota HiLux after receiving intel that it would be carrying a significant quantity of illicit drugs and be heading south from Sydney towards Canberra.

Documents state at around 3.30pm they spotted Narayan’s car on the Hume Highway in Mittagong and then pulled him over near Berrima for roadside testing.

He tested negative to the breath test however according to police facts, he seemed quite nervous and was also subject to a drug test.

After searching the HiLux, police located a Cotton On bag in the rear which contained 30 vacuum-sealed plastic bags of what was later identified as cocaine.

The quantity was estimated in court to have then been $220,000 in street value.

Thirty plastic bags vacuum sealed bags of cocaine were found in Pronoy Narayan’s car on May 13, 2021.

Narayan was subsequently arrested and taken to Southern Highlands Police Station, where he was subject to a secondary oral fluid sample that tested positive to cocaine which the court heard he had the night before.

During the cross-examination, Narayan revealed that he was transporting the cocaine for his dealer to lower his drug-debt from $6000 to $5000 and also receive an “eight-ball” (3.5 grams of cocaine).

The court heard he was given a blank phone by his dealer which he would have to enter a code in to get the Sydney address.

His lawyer, Kiernan Ginges, described him as “a mere courier” whose “judgment was clouded by his own drug use”.

While being in custody for a week after being arrested, Mr Ginges said Narayan “saw a hellish existence of someone injecting heroin,” which opened up his eyes to the reality of his offending.

“Being in jail was the hardest thing in my life,” Narayan said during the cross-examination.

“I don’t want to go to jail and get addicted to heroin.”

Mr Ginges said that after being released on strict bail, Narayan “well and truly (took) the right steps” and “is someone who had done everything they can possibly do.”

With the help of a recovery program, therapy, medication, and support from his partner and family, the court heard he went from taking cocaine daily to cutting it out of his life, starting a building business and electrical business, getting his full electrical licence and positively participating in the community.

“I think it was probably the best thing that’s happened to me,” Narayan said.

“When I was using, all I saw was getting more drugs to use.

“Now I’m driven, I love my job, I see a future.”

“I’ve hurt my family and friends all my life which I’m trying to fix.”

Pronoy Narayan was sentenced for transporting 832 grams of cocaine and driving under the influence of drugs. Picture: Facebook

Crown Prosecutor Webb described the incident as “a classic case where an offender presents to court with a good subjective case yet fails to be sentenced for a serious matter”.

“His personal use had continued to the point that he was storing and hiding a significant quantity for his dealer,” Mr Webb said.

Judge David Arnott recognised the seriousness of the offence and that the quantity found was three times over the commercial limit.

“The culpability of anyone that engages in drug supply is significant,” Judge Arnott said.

“In the absence of couriers, these networks would simply collapse.”

Though he said Narayan “made a good impression on him” and that he is “at a crossroads.”

“Over 15 months he has taken significant strides in preventing a drug relapse,” Judge Arnott said.

“He recognises illicit drugs had ruined his life and could ruin many more.

“The prospect of rehabilitation is good.”

Narayan was given an Intensive Corrections Order for 1 year, 11 months and 3 weeks, due to an early guilty plea discount and the one week already spent in custody.

He is to abstain from consuming drugs, undertake counselling and / or treatment for drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues, do 320 hours of community service, report to Queanbeyan and reside in NSW for the period of the sentence.