‘Party girl’ Jennyfer Stephanie Garcia threatened by Mexican drug cartel

A woman who did so much cocaine as a teenager that she developed blood clots has been sentenced over her role in a major drug plot.

A woman described as living a “party girl” lifestyle has been handed a hefty sentence for her role in attempting to sell $144m worth of meth.

Mexican national Jennyfer Stephanie Garcia, 36, was sentenced to six years behind bars on Wednesday after being found guilty of taking part in supply large commercial amount of the drug.

A non-parole period of three years, taking into account time already served, will make her eligible for release in February 2024.

Garcia initially pleaded guilty to the crime but claimed she had been threatened into taking part by a person with links to a Mexican cartel.

Sentencing judge Graham Turnbull said Garcia was of good character but excessive drug use had led her to become involved with those who would ultimately take advantage of her.

“In my view … she was being utilised by more ruthless associates,” he said.

‘Party girl’ Jennyfer Stephanie Garcia received six years in jail for her role in a major attempted drug plot. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

The court was told that during her teenage years, Garcia had become heavily involved with drugs, attending rave parties and consuming cannabis, cocaine, LSD and mushrooms at a young age.

While still a teenager, she consumed so much cocaine that she developed blood clots in her nose and at 16 was also injected with the drug, the court was told.

Through her self-proclaimed “party girl” lifestyle, Garcia became involved with a person in Mexico known as Daniel, who would ultimately facilitate her travelling to Australia.

The court was told she attended parties at Daniel’s house in Mexico where cocaine, MDMA and other recreational drugs were readily available.

Daniel paid for Garcia to travel to Australia for the purpose of facilitating the sale of methamphetamine that had been imported from Mexico, the court was told.

Some of the drugs seized by police last year.

Garcia was arrested in 2019 after trying to collect a van full of drugs in western Sydney.

She claimed she did not know the extent of the plot and was acting under “duress” after the safety of her family was threatened by the Mexican cartel.

In sentencing her, Judge Turnbull concluded that Garcia’s family was threatened but not until she returned to Mexico for a period after already being in Australia.

Despite rejecting the defence of duress, Judge Turnbull said he did take the threats into account in sentencing.

He also found it likely that Garcia was aware at least to some extent what she was taking part in.

“She may well have thought that by putting her head in the sand that when presented with the opportunity of coming to Australia she may have convinced herself it was no more than a minor favour,” Judge Turnbull said.

He added that Garcia may also have had a warped perspective about her possibility of being caught, having come from a background where drug use was “normalised”.

Garcia claimed the safety of her family was threatened by a man with ties to a Mexican cartel. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Judge Turnbull noted in sentencing that Garcia was no longer using drugs and had begun a relationship with a person in Australia who supported her in living a clean lifestyle.

However, he said her sentence should act as a deterrent to others seeking to bring large amounts of the “hideous” drug to Australia.

“Methamphetamine is a terrible thing in our community as a daylight walk in any regional town or city will confirm,” he said.

“You can say your farewells and then enter into custody please.”