Tara Elizabeth Follett: Wellington drug syndicate role revealed

Details about the work a woman did for the alleged boss of a NSW drug syndicate, including her internet searches and the punishments she dished out, have been revealed.

A woman has confessed to working closely with the alleged boss of a major drug syndicate in which she performed a “management” role.

Details of Wellington woman Tara Elizabeth Follett’s work for the syndicate can be revealed for the first time after the 36-year-old pleaded guilty at Dubbo Local Court to a charge of participating in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity.

Wellington woman Tara Follett has pleaded guilty to a criminal group participation charge. Picture: LinkedIn /Tara Follett

Police dismantled the syndicate in May 2020 after an exhaustive 14-month undercover investigation known as Strike Force Pinnacle entered its resolution phase.

Follett was one of dozens arrested and charged over their involvement in the syndicate, which saw large quantities of ice sourced from Sydney, delivered to Wellington and supplied across western NSW.

According to court documents, Follett was previously a Canberra resident until July 2019 when she moved to Wellington to live with her mother at a home on Gisborne Street.

Phones, SIM cards and note books filled with information about the syndicate’s activities were seized when police raided Follett’s home in May last year.

Contact details for members of the syndicate, passwords and a list of devices used by the alleged boss of the syndicate were found in the notebook, court documents state.

When police searched Follett’s phone, her search history showed queries about a range of issues related to the syndicate’s operation.

According to court documents, Follett was “responsible for management” of the telecommunications devices the alleged boss of the syndicate used and she would regularly change and disconnect his devices.

Furthermore, Follett would manage and maintain the boss’s social media accounts and use of encrypted communication applications.

Tara Follett is due to be sentenced in November. Picture: Ryan Young

Court documents state that when the boss wouldn’t follow Follett’s advice, or if she resented the way she was being treated, Follett would wipe data and passwords connected to his phones and devices.

Follett also took responsibility for the syndicate’s legal arrangements and researched how to set up trusts which drug money could be funnelled into for children and how to purchase property while keeping Centrelink payments.

After Follett entered her plea of guilty her case was adjourned the District Court at Dubbo and date for sentencing was set for November.

The cases of various other members of the syndicate remain before the courts.

Follett remains out on bail.