Lucas Bingham jailed for ‘sophisticated’ dark web drug trafficking scheme
An out-of-work tattooist has been jailed after he was caught trafficking LSD and cannabis over the dark web and mailing the drugs across the country, including to police operatives.
South East
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A Melbourne man found a niche market selling LSD and cannabis over the dark web after his tattooing business closed down during the Covid lockdowns, a court has heard.
Lucas Raymond Bingham operated as a dark web vendor with the username ‘Utopia’ and was linked to 309 parcels of LSD and cannabis that were seized in the mail by police.
He was nabbed after police conducted 10 controlled purchases from him of 70 LSD tablets, 59.5 grams of cannabis, 24 THC-infused cookies and three THC-infused gummies.
The purchases were worth $2616 and were paid in bitcoin.
On Thursday, Bingham appeared before the County Court via video link from custody to learn his sentence.
Judge Justin Lewis described Bingham’s drug trafficking business as a “sophisticated online retailer” which was reputable on the dark web.
He sentenced him to four years and 10 months in jail.
Last week the court heard between November 9, 2022 and September 13, 2023 Victoria Police’s Major Drug Squad seized 362 parcels containing illicit substances that originated from Utopia.
The police operation highlighted the use of stealth, including payment in cryptocurrency, to conduct anonymous transactions to avoid detection.
Bingham was seen attending numerous post offices in Frankston, Cranbourne, Berwick, Dandenong South and Carrum Downs to deposit parcels addressed to buyers from across the country.
He was arrested at his Cranbourne house on October 17, 2023 and investigators seized 6589 LSD tablets, 435 grams of cannabis, 302 THC-infused cookies, 84 packets of THC gummies, 40g of butane honey oil, 75.3g of magic mushrooms, a small quantity of ketamine, about $12,500 cash and an Isuzu D Max utility.
The 43-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and trafficking in a commercial quantity of various illicit drugs and possessing cartridge and ammunition last week.
His lawyer Emily Clarke said although Bingham ran a protracted drug trafficking business, it lacked sophistication in that he held the drugs at home and was captured on CCTV dropping off parcels.
He was not part of a drug syndicate but operated as a sole trader for financial gain after the Covid lockdown impacted his tattoo business, she submitted.
“There’s nothing to indicate he was earning huge sums of money and living a luxurious life,” Ms Clarke said.
She said Bingham’s arrest was the wake up call he needed and that he has stopped using illicit substances since he was taken into custody.
Prosecutor Jordan Vassis said Bingham’s moral culpability was high as he knew what he was doing and that there was little evidence of genuine remorse.
