‘Evil’ Gold Coast drug supplier to remain behind bars

One of Australia’s former most-wanted criminals has been blasted as an “evil” drug dealer, with a judge rejecting his attempt to dodge a serious violent offender tag.

‘Evil’ drug dealer Doru Riscuta.

ONE of Australia’s former most-wanted criminals has failed in an attempt to beat a “serious violent offender” tag, after a judge found him to be an “evil” drug dealer.

Doru “Don” Riscuta, now in his 60s, was jailed in 2017 after pleading guilty to trafficking cocaine, in a racket that saw him organise the supply of the drug from Sydney to the Gold Coast.

Described by some as an “accomplished” drug peddler, Riscuta had been trafficking heroin and other hard drugs since the 1980s.

After being charged for his cocaine racket, he failed to turn up for court in 2013 and went on the run for two years, leading to him being listed as one of Australia’s most wanted in 2014. When he finally handed himself into police in 2015, he went on to plead guilty to trafficking and was handed a 10-year-jail term.

That sentence meant an automatic serious violent offender declaration was placed on his file.

Last year, Riscuta sought leave from jail to appeal the sentence, but Justice Walter Sofronoff said he was a “large-scale” trafficker with a “bad criminal history”.

“The applicant pleaded guilty, but this, of course, was a late plea and after he had run away,” Justice Sofronoff said.

“(He) was certainly old enough to know that what he was doing in spreading addictive drugs into the community was not only criminal but that it was evil.”

The Queensland Court of Appeal heard Riscuta sold at least 46 ounces (1.3kg) to one customer alone, who also became his partner in crime.

The 10-year jail term and the serious violent offender status was upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Originally published as ‘Evil’ Gold Coast drug supplier to remain behind bars