Matthew Carabott jailed for drug manufacturing and trafficking

A Harcourt plant scientist has been busted setting up a sophisticated drug lab to manufacture cocaine and mescaline in his family home.

Matthew Carabott used his “scientific knowledge” in biochemistry to break bad and try and manufacture and sell every drug under the sun.

A plant scientist has been jailed after he was busted setting up a sophisticated drug manufacture and trafficking operation in his family home.

Matthew Carabott, 41, pleaded guilty at the Melbourne County Court on Wednesday to the manufacture, cultivation and trafficking of drugs

Police raided the Harcourt man’s family home where his wife and child lived in September 2022, revealing precursor chemicals, laboratory equipment and scientific literature which he intended to use to manufacture GHB and the psychedelic mescaline.

Police seized sophisticated laboratory equipment Carabott intended to use to manufacture drugs including cocaine and mescaline.

Police revealed a message Carabott sent to an associate stating he intended to set up a “lab” and synthesise more than 140g of mescaline, “Fear and Loathing-style”, referencing the 1998 movie where Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro explore Las Vegas while high on a plethora of drugs.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Picture: Supplied.

Police also revealed more than a kilo of cocoa leaves and precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of cocaine in a cannabis grow tent with hydroponic set up with 10 plants.

Materials documenting the process of manufacturing drugs including methamphetamine, Xanax and fentanyl were also seized by police.

In total, the police raid revealed a massive narcotic stash including: 331g of psychedelic, 113g of synthetic stimulant pentylone, 34g methcathinone, a methamphetamine like drug, 29.8g of ketamine, magic mushrooms, 31g of psychedelic DMT, 9g of date rape drug GHB, 1g of bath salts, less than half a gram of heroin and 150 tabs of LSD.

Matthew Carabott used his “scientific knowledge” in biochemistry to break bad and try and manufacture and sell every drug under the sun.

The court heard Carrabott had specialist knowledge and training in biochemistry and biology and had worked as an agronomist with major fertiliser and agricultural companies over the years.

The court heard Carabott had been employed by Coliban Water as co-ordinator of biosolid use following his arrest, but was sacked when his charges came to light.

The court heard Carabott was employed by Bergmeier Environmental consulting.

The defence asked for a sentence in the community, arguing that if Carabott was jailed his wife and child would lose their family home because his wife couldn’t work to pay the mortgage.

The defence said Carabott was essential in caring and providing for his autistic son and his wife who had mental and physical problems, arguing the drug dealer met the threshold for mercy from the court.

Carabott was busted setting up a “sophisticated” drug lab to manufacture several drugs.

The prosecution argued Carabott’s wife and child shouldn’t affect sentencing because his decision to sell drugs for money led to the situation they were now in.

“This is serious criminal offending … he chose to commit these offences,” the crown said.

The prosecution argued the drugs Carabott was seeking to manufacture and peddle were the “scourge on our society”, and he needed to be locked up to send a message.

“Drug manufacturers and dealers need to know that their actions will be met by significant terms of imprisonment,” the Crown said.

Carabott was busted trying to manufacture and traffic cocaine.

Judge Amanda Chambers found Carabott’s offending to be serious, using his “scientific knowledge” intending to manufacture drugs, particularly cocaine, “lured by the prospects of profits”.

Judge Chambers said other would-be drug dealers needed to be deterred because trafficking caused “untold harm to our community”.

Carabott was convicted and sentenced to three years, six months in prison with a non-parole period of one year, nine months.

Judge Chambers said mercy must be given when appropriate, and Carabott’s situation merited it, giving him a shorter non-parole period.

If Carabott had not pleaded guilty, he would have been jailed for four years, four months, with a non-parole period of two years, four months.