Seyla Lao: Smithfield man caught supplying MDMA at Knockout Music Festival

A young man who attempted to sneak 36 MDMA pills into a music festival, hiding the drugs in the seams of a Calvin Klein jumper, was slammed by a magistrate who described his actions as “reprehensible”.

Seyla Lao was sentenced at Burwood Local Court.

A young man who snuck 36 pink MDMA tablets into the Knockout music festival was slammed by a magistrate who said the young dealer’s actions were “reprehensible” because he “took the easy way out” by turning to drug supply to fund his debts.

Smithfield man Seyla Lao, 25, who was sprung with 38g of MDMA hidden in a Calvin Klein jumper, was told by Magistrate Andrew Miller at Burwood Local Court on Monday there was no other option but imprisonment.

SLao had previously pleaded guilty to drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Documents tendered to Burwood Local Court lay out how the 25-year-old’s plan to make some quick cash went horribly wrong when he was busted at the popular music festival on October 1, 2022.

Lao entered the festival’s processing area just after 2pm and immediately noticed a drug detection dog called “Gilly”, a court heard.

Seyla Lao leaving Burwood Local Court.

Despite entering another lane to avoid the dog, Gilly approached Lao and indicated the 25-year-old could be in possession of drugs.

Police officers then spoke to Lao who appeared “nervous, shaking and withdrawn”, court documents state.

Seyla Lao (left) with his lawyer (right) outside Burwood Local Court.

Lao’s backpack was then searched by police officers who noticed a blue Calvin Klein jumper.

“Upon a search of the jacket, police felt hard items within the lower stitching … (they then) located a hole inside the stitching where they pulled out a sandwich bag wrapped in cling wrap,” court documents state.

In the sandwich bag, police found 36 pressed pink pills and then located $1100 cash in Lao’s wallet.

In court, Lao’s lawyer said he had strong family ties and cared for his mother who had both her legs amputated.

The court also heard this was Lao’s first criminal offence and while his lawyer said “it would be prosperous for me to stand here and say he didn’t do it for money”, he added his client was not just motivated by greed, but also by desperation because he was in debt.

But Mr Miller told the court Lao’s dealing was a “reprehensible” act of greed because his decision was motivated by financial gain.

“You took the easy way out in trying to sell drugs to fund your debts,” he said. “It’s not on, those drugs could have had the ramifications of killing people.”

Lao was convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment to be served in the community by means of an intensive corrections order.

“MDMA is an insidious drug, as recently as two or three weeks ago there has been serious illness and death caused by the taking of this particular substance at a dance festival,” Mr Miller said while handing down his sentence.