Lara Alali sentenced for supplying cocaine three times in Condell Park

A now unemployed woman got caught up as a runner in a Sydney drug syndicate to fund her own addiction, using her personal number and Mercedes to carry out drug deals.

Lara Alali, 27, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday after she pleaded guilty to ongoing drug supply and drug possession. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A former bank analyst has been ordered to complete 200 hours of community service after she was caught selling drugs three times in one day from her own Mercedes.

Lara Alali, 27, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday after she pleaded guilty to ongoing drug supply and drug possession.

Agreed facts tendered to court said Alali worked as a bank credit analyst at the time and earned $85,000 per year when she became involved in a criminal drug syndicate where she took instructions from a “controller”.

In June 2022, police started a strike force to investigate the ongoing supply of cocaine across central and south west metropolitan areas and used covert surveillance techniques and telephone intercepts to monitor the drug ring.

The bank credit analyst used her own Mercedes and phone number to deliver cocaine to customers when working as a runner for a Sydney drug syndicate. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Investigators identified a “controller” who used a central mobile phone to accept orders from customers through text messages or encrypted apps before runners would deliver cocaine.

Police identified a man who was allegedly the “controller” and Alali as a runner, who would use her black Mercedes and personal phone number.

On September 16, investigators were surveilling Alali’s driving her car in Condell Park with the “controller” in the passenger seat and a man got inside at the rear for about a minute before he walked away.

Telephone intercepts showed the man had arranged to purchase one gram of cocaine in exchange for $500 with the deal occurring about 3.45pm.

Investigators followed Alali to Arncliffe where another man got in the car and left after a minute, with phone records showing the customer had arranged to purchase two bags of cocaine about 4.15pm.

Alali was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court.

Later that night Alali carried out another drug deal.

A month later, Alali was pulled over in a vehicle stop on October 14 before the car was searched.

Police found a small bag of cocaine weighing one gram in a cavity under the steering wheel.

In court Alali’s defence lawyer said she was allegedly in a “fairly abusive” marriage that fell apart in 2021 and she became addicted to drugs and started supplying cocaine to fund her lifestyle and habit.

The lawyer said Alali was in a new relationship now, acknowledged what she did, was remorseful and had taken “proactive steps” to ensure she did not return to using drugs such as re-engaging with her psychologist.

The court also heard Alali lost her employment after being charged and was hoping to get a new job in the government, and had no previous criminal history.

Magistrate Philip Stewart noted Alali allowed herself to become part of a criminal dial-a-dealer syndicate.

Alali was convicted and sentenced to a two-year community correction order and was fined $3800.