A young Gold Coast dad used Snapchat, texts to sell drugs, MDMA and cannabis

A young Gold Coast dad who set up a drug trafficking business on the Snapchat app and arranged to supply MDMA and cannabis via text messages has had his day in court.

A young Gold Coast dad who set up a drug trafficking business on Snapchat and arranged the supply of MDMA and cannabis through text messages has walked from court.

Coby James Bell, 21, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Tuesday to six charges, including drug trafficking and supply.

Police uncovered text messages detailing Bell’s criminal activity during a raid of his home on March 31, 2020.

The 21-year-old also made admissions to police during the raid.

Bell used Snapchat to advertise the sale of Diazepam (also known as Valium), the anxiety medication Oxazepam and Clonazepam, a medication used to treat seizures, panic disorders and anxiety.

Snapchat is a popular platform among teenagers and young adults to share pictures and messages usually only available for a short period before they disappear.

Bell used photos and videos to advertise the drugs for sale on the messaging app at a cost between $40 and $80 per bottle, the court was told.

He made three sales totalling $430 in a week in March 2020.

Bell offered to supply the drugs on a further 12 occasions.

Text messages on his phone also revealed he supplied an unknown quantity of MDMA to a person for $330 on credit on March 1.

He supplied two grams of MDMA on March 10 and a further five grams on another occasion.

Bell supplied between $30 and $50 of cannabis during another deal.

All of the 21-year-old’s offending occurred between March 1 and April 1, 2020.

Defence barrister James McNab said his client’s operation showed “no real sophistication” and that he committed the offending to support a drug habit.

He was 18 at the time of the offending.

Mr McNab said Bell had “turned his life around and is in stable employment”.

He is engaged, has two children and works at a recycling centre.

Bell wrote a letter of apology to the court for his actions.

Judge Jodie Wooldridge noted he could face actual time in custody for his offending.

“The aspect of advertising and attempts to further advertise your business on Snapchat is a serious factor of your offending,” she said.

“But I otherwise accept the submission made that your business was relatively unsophisticated in nature.”

Judge Wooldridge took into account the young dad’s early guilty plea, personal circumstances, efforts of rehabilitation and cooperation with police.

Bell was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, with an immediate release on parole.

Convictions were recorded.

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