Dealer Vanessa Galati ran on-demand service for Sydney’s coke hungry eastern suburbs
A hairdresser ran a ‘dial a dealer’ service from her BMW — serving the cocaine-hungry eastern suburbs. Shortly before learning her fate in court on Wednesday she lashed out at a photographer outside the Downing Centre.
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A “dial-a-dealer” found with 14 bags of cocaine stuffed in her BMW’s centre console was operating an on-demand service to supply the coke-hungry eastern suburbs.
Hairdresser Vanessa Galati, who was also found with coke stuffed down her bra and a bundle of cash when arrested, lashed out at a Daily Telegraph photographer outside the Downing Centre on Wednesday.
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The 30-year-old, described in court as an “otherwise law abiding young woman”, slapped the camera out of the photographer’s hand as she entered the court to learn her fate.
In court her solicitor said she was merely a “runner” in the operation who had endured a “tumultuous” period in her life.
Magistrate Kate Thompson acknowledged Galati had “expressed genuine remorse and contrition” for her crimes but said the facts proved she had supplied drugs “on an on-demand basis.”
According to agreed facts, the casual hairdresser had just completed a $1200 sale when she was busted by plain clothes Strike Force Northrop detectives on Glenmore Rd, Paddington about 5pm on May 11.
Detectives had observed a male enter her black BMW sedan parked near The Royal Hotel, before quickly exiting with his hand in his pocket.
The man admitted to buying four bags of cocaine for $1200 and police approached the vehicle, in which Galati sat as the driver and sole occupant.
She was seen fumbling with cash in her lap, the facts state, which police later found to be the $1200.
The Russell Lea resident told police she had one bag containing 0.79g of cocaine for “personal use” in her jacket pocket.
However, a search of the BMW discovered 14 knotted freezer bags containing a total of 13.25g of cocaine stuffed behind a loose panel in the car’s centre console.
Police found two mobile phones and uncovered another bag of 0.11g of cocaine stashed inside Galati’s bra, the facts state.
Another $1200 in cash and receipts for $6340 in cash deposits were also recovered, with police tainting $4200 of the money as proceeds of crime.
Under questioning at Waverley police station, she admitted to driving 17km from St George Leagues Club at Beverley Park to Paddington after receiving a call from an unnamed male.
She also told police she used two to three bags of cocaine per week, a habit that cost her $600.
In court she pleaded guilty to charges of drug supply and dealing with proceeds of crime, while her charge of drug possession was taken into account by Magistrate Kate Thompson when sentencing.
She was handed a 16 month intensive correction with 125 hours of community service.
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