Felicity Fraser pleads guilty to conspiring to import cocaine with boss Peter Ritson
A well-known Upper Hunter identity has admitted her involvement in trying to import millions of dollars of cocaine from South America.
Newcastle
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A well-known Upper Hunter horse and polo identity has admitted to trying to import more than a tonne of cocaine into the country, strategically hidden in shipments of wood from South America.
Felicity Fraser, 42, appeared via video link in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday where she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
Seven other charges against Ms Fraser - the wife of respected Scone solicitor George Fraser - were dropped which included attempting to possess marketable and commercial quantities of an unlawful import border controlled drug.
The court heard between December 2017 and October 2021 Fraser had conspired with her boss Peter Leslie Ritson - who it’s understood she worked for as a bookkeeper - and others to import the drugs.
The charges relate to 1050kg of cocaine in a series of shipments from Ecuador, worth an estimated street value of more than $400 million.
Ms Fraser’s solicitor Ms Tasker asked for the matter to be moved to Sydney’s Downing Centre citing it was a “complex matter” and there were “significant issues” that needed to be addressed.
But Magistrate Caleb Franklin denied the request and directed an application be made for it to moved, otherwise it would remain in Newcastle, where a sentence date is set to be fixed in the District Court in December.
Soon after Mr Ritson’s matters were mentioned, but the 60-year-old did not make an appearance as his charges were quickly adjourned for two weeks, with negotiations to continue.
He’s also facing a conspiracy to import charge, with charges of attempting to possess marketable and commercial quantities of an unlawful import border controlled drug set to be withdrawn.
He also faces three firearms charges, including possession of an unregistered firearm.
The pair were arrested over the massive haul in February, after detectives investigating an unsolved armed robbery more than two decades ago, uncovered a “criminal syndicate” involved in the importation of illegal drugs.
Police allege the pair conspired to import bundles of cocaine through three hidden shipments of teak and a fourth shipment of the mineral zeolite.
However, the first three shipments arrived on Australian shores without any of the drugs on board, while the fourth shipment, which was allegedly supposed to contain 500kg of cocaine, never arrived.
The Fraser’s who are well known in Scone, bought Ilala Stud at Moobi more than a decade ago and rose to some fame in thoroughbred circles after buying broodmare Maria di Castiglia while in foal.
The foal was 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, which was sold as a yearling for $45,000 two years before winning the great race.
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