Mildura truckie Matthew Roberts jailed for role in syndicate which peddled meth to truck drivers
An “energetic deputy” in a drug syndicate who peddled meth to interstate truck drivers was himself an ice-addled driver who smoked “half an 8-ball” a day just to stay awake while trucking between Melbourne and Sydney.
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A Mildura truckie who smoked ice to stay awake while driving interstate was a key-player in a syndicate which peddled meth to other truckies, a court has heard.
Matthew Roberts, 44, was sentenced in the County Court on Monday to a minimum two years’ and four months’ jail after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine.
Roberts sold “about an ounce a week” of meth to other interstate truckies while he worked for Murray River Trucking between January 1 and June 30 2019.
Roberts was also nabbed for his role in a larger 13-member drug syndicate which peddled ice to a network of meth-addled interstate truck drivers.
The court heard Roberts was an “active and energetic” player in the syndicate between July and December 2019.
Roberts’ many tasks included collecting debts with threats of violence, purchasing and distribution, moving cash and passing on complaints regarding the quality of meth.
Roberts was also a link between the syndicate’s hierarchy and other traffickers, the court heard.
Much of the syndicate’s business was conducted between Sunbury and Mildura.
Police set up a covert operation targeting the syndicate in mid-2019.
Roberts was linked to the racket via intercepted text messages.
Roberts was also linked to five “runs” between August and September 2019 where almost 25 ounces of meth passed through his hands.
The gang masked their racket with “coded language” but police had enough to swoop and Roberts was arrested in December 2019.
He admiited his role before pleading guilty at the earliest possible stage.
Roberts was threatened after it was revealed he would co-operate with the police investigation, the court heard.
Roberts, a father of three, said he used “half an 8-ball” of meth a day just to stay awake while trucking.
Judge Martine Marich said Roberts held a “trusted” role in a “very busy operation”.
She also said Roberts committed one of the “gravest examples” of drug trafficking the court had seen.
“You were a trusted and energetic deputy to others and responsible for subordinate activities which facilitated their business for trafficking,” Judge Marich said.
“You were heavily involved in activities which resulted in the repeated and significant distribution of this grave drug into the community.”
Matthews — who had spent 193 days in custody — was jailed for a maximum three years and four months.
Several other syndicate members will face court at later dates.
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