Murderer Elizabeth Ann Cox set to be jailed for ‘ice’ drug operation in Maitland

Elizabeth Ann Cox who was jailed for murdering another woman 25 years ago now finds herself facing lengthy jail time for a lucrative drug operation feeding Maitland with ‘ice’.

Items seized by Strike Force Callard, set up to investigate a drug syndicate working in the Maitland area. Picture: NSW Police.

The court heard when she was just a teenager, Elizabeth Ann Cox was sentenced to jail for the violent stabbing murder of her sister’s friend.

Now more than two decades on, Cox finds herself again facing lengthy jail time for “acting as principal” in a drug operation which sourced ‘ice’ from Sydney and was distributed throughout the Maitland area.

The court heard Cox - now 44 - was involved in the serious crime when she was just 18, in December 1997, and was released on parole nine years later in 2007.

Items seized by Strike Force Callard, set up to investigate an a drug syndicate working in the Maitland area. Picture: NSW Police.

Items seized by Strike Force Callard, set up to investigate a drug syndicate working in the Maitland area. Picture: NSW Police.

Judge Peter McGrath discussed her past of an eating disorder which led to a heroin addiction and her involvement in the criminal underworld before she became a drug dealer.

In November 2021, Cox was arrested after Strike Force Callard investigators raided a home in East Maitland and uncovered a stash of drugs, money and firearms.

The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to the ongoing supply of methamphetamine between November 7 to 26.

She also pleaded guilty to supplying 277 grams of meth on November 25, dealing with more than $55,000 in proceeds of crime and possession of a prohibited firearm.

She also admitted to drug possession, supply and fraud charges, which will be taken into account on sentencing.

In Newcastle District Court on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Hamish Fitzhardinge said a co-accused’s role was as a courier and it was Cox who seemingly acted as principal by sourcing the drugs from Sydney.

The court heard her charges related to 21 occasions where she supplied drugs and that it was a “profitable” business selling drugs to the Lower Hunter region.

Judge McGrath reserved his judgement and she’ll be sentenced on Friday.