Adriene Elizabeth McKenzie jailed for Australia Post meth parcel

When an Australia Post staffer found boxes of oats containing more of a pick-me-up than just protein, police traced them to this former aged care worker in Qld.

generic image express post Australia Post and methamphetamines

A former aged care worker who once won a scholarship has now been jailed after being busted ordering a significant amount of methamphetamine in the mail.

Adriene Elizabeth McKenzie, 32, had her drug order of 39.675 grams of meth in 53.13 grams of substance addressed to her boyfriend’s mother to be delivered to a Frenchville address, the Supreme Court in Rockhampton heard on April 22.

Crown prosecutor Joshua Phillips said it was thanks to the Australia Post employees’ diligence that the parcel was intercepted, and police were called on October 25, 2023.

Justice Graeme Crow said when police opened the Express Post parcel, they found Uncle Toby’s Oats packages – half filled with oats, the other half with meth.

He said a woman contacted Australia Post asking about the parcel that day, and again six days later.

Police searched McKenzie’s Frenchville residence on November 2 and located three bags of meth – one in her handbag and two in her bra.

They also located a vial containing 7.164 grams of liquid 1,4-Butanediol, a used glass pipe and McKenzie’s phone, which contained messages about her supplying drugs to others.

Justice Crow said one of the seven drug supply messages involved the customer wanting swap the meth with McKenzie for Lyrica – an anticonvulsant medication.

He said another customer complained about drugs she scored off McKenzie, saying they were “powders”, and McKenzie warned her not to talk about that on Messenger.

Justice Crow said the customer sent McKenzie a photograph of the substance on scales and stated she wasn’t going to smoke it until McKenzie saw it.

He said McKenzie replied that she’d “never ripped off anyone” in her life and she’d fix the customer up – she supplied her with 41.3 grams meth.

Two days later, that same customer asked for a half ball (1.75 grams), and McKenzie followed up on the debt that customer owed.

“In just over two weeks, (McKenzie) supplied at least 48.7 grams of substance containing methamphetamine,” Justice Crow said.

The court heard McKenzie’s criminal history included convictions for armed robbery in company, serious assault of police, possessing drugs and entering a dwelling.

The mother-of-one grew up in Rockhampton and won a Benevolent Nursing Home scholarship.

Defence barrister Maree Willey said her client had a longstanding drug habit which increased after her relationship broke down and her former partner took their son to live in Brisbane.

She said McKenzie abstained from using drugs from 2020 to 2023 after spending time in prison for the armed robbery.

She also said that after her arrest for these offences, McKenzie again attempted rehabilitation by moving in with her father to get away from her peer group and undergoing the Opioid Treatment Program.

While being held on remand since February for failing to appear in the Supreme Court, McKenzie had been on the waiting list for counselling for drug use, domestic violence and mental health.

McKenzie pleaded guilty to one count of possessing more than two grams of a schedule one drug and seven counts of supplying drugs.

She was sentenced to four years’ prison with 57 days presentence custody declared as time served and parole eligibility set for June 23, 2026.

Originally published as Adriene Elizabeth McKenzie jailed for Australia Post meth parcel