Michael Lowe: Oatley pharmacist jailed for major ice supply operation

A successful pharmacist who stored drugs and cash for criminals and worked while high has told a court heartbreak drove him to take part in the major ice supply operation.

A highly-educated pharmacist, trusted to responsibly dispense medication while secretly hiding illegal drugs and bundles of cash, has been jailed for a large-scale supply operation driven by heartbreak.

Michael Lowe, 61, bowed his head as he was sentenced at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court to three years and nine months behind bars after pleading guilty to commercial drug supply and dealing with more than $100,000 worth of crime proceeds.

Lowe once led a seemingly normal life, running successful pharmacies at Oatley and Condell Park for decades with an exclusive waterfront address in his property portfolio.

But in June 2020, police discovered Lowe’s shocking double life when they derailed a major methylamphetamine (ice) supply syndicate.

In sentencing Lowe, Judge Jon Williams said he was not convinced Lowe’s ice use drove him to what he did.

Michael Lowe, 61, at Hornsby Local Court on a prior occasion.

“I’m convinced he was a willing participant and, judging by the facts, I would not consider him to be akin to a street level dealer,” he said.

“I would not be satisfied, [given he was] allowing an associate to store all the illegal drugs and money at his premises, that a sentence served by way of an intensive corrections order would be appropriate.”

Lowe’s steep fall from grace was sparked by a nasty separation with his wife some four to five years ago, the court heard. Struggling to deal with the break-up, agreed facts read in court detailed how Lowe started to take ice two-to-times a week “but not such to affect the running of his business”.

In documents tendered to court, Lowe said: “Due to my divorce, I developed a need for physical contact so I started doing ice. In this instance, there was no profit motive or financial gain, it was friendship and camaraderie that came as a result of my criminal involvement and association.

“The major component of the supply charge was that it was difficult to procure ice and I acted as the go-between to obtain the product. I realise now this was wrong, but at the time my judgment was clouded by my own drug use.”

A safe in the floor at Lowe’s home.

The court heard Lowe had gone to rehab and undergone counselling while on bail to better understand himself and what led him to this point. He said he deeply regretted his actions and never wanted to repeat the “most frightening experience to date” – being remanded in custody following his arrest.

According to a medical report tendered to court, a doctor said it was unusual for a successful pharmacist of 20 years to suddenly start taking part in criminal activity, adding there was no known history of mental health issues that would have contributed.

Judge Williams said he accepted Lowe was remorseful.

Had it not been for Lowe’s guilty plea, he would have been sentenced to five years’ jail. He will be eligible for parole on June 9, 2024.