Kelby Louise Lancaster busted in Gladstone trafficking drugs

A young Qld drug dealer was making thousands on Snapchat and had offered to supply across the state when a late-night bust at an industrial estate brought her undone.

Former Bundaberg resident Kelby Louise Lancaster busted in Gladstone trafficking drugs.

A young woman found with a trove of illicit drugs at an industrial estate was deep in dealing and willing to travel across the state for sales to support her $2000 per week habit.

Kelby Louise Lancaster, 22, was working as a manager in hospitality until she underwent a traumatic medical procedure and her drug use soared.

This caused a state of psychosis and left her homeless, the Supreme Court in Rockhampton heard on June 2.

Justice Graeme Crow said Lancaster was intercepted driving in Gladstone’s industrial area on December 2, 2023 at 12.30am for a random breath test.

The driver of the vehicle who was Lancaster’s partner at the time, was wanted on a warrant and both were searched, along with the vehicle, he said.

Police located 6.34 grams of marijuana, 1.277 grams meth, 7.025 grams of cocaine and 2.979 pure MDMA in 12.182 grams of substance along with phones, vapes, scales, clip seal bags, a black toiletry bag, marijuana jelly, sunglasses and used pipe.

Justice Crow said an analysis of Lancaster’s phone revealed 50 supplies or offers to supply drugs including cocaine and MDMA for usually street level amounts, making about $15,350 profit.

He said she offered to travel to supply drugs including to Emerald, Gladstone, Rockhampton and Brisbane.

Lancaster trafficked drugs between October 13, 2023 and December 3, 2023, from Gladstone.

Justice Crow said she also discussed avoiding drug detection dogs and advertised her business on Snapchat.

He said Lancaster admitted to police the bags containing the items found belonged to her and the man she was with was not aware of the stuff in the car.

Justice Crow said material provided to him outlined Lancaster’s background which included her work history in the hospitality sector where she reached management level before drugs took over her life.

He said the material stated she had been traumatised by the medical procedure in September 2023 and she started consuming more drugs to the point it was costing her $2000 per week.

“That’s made (her) want to be a trafficker,” Justice Crow said.

He also said Lancaster ingested ketamine which triggered a state of psychosis, fuelling her drug use and she became homeless, and she was living in car until she was taken into custody.

The court heard being remanded in custody was a turning point for Lancaster as she had received help while in jail and was now compliant with prescription medication for mental health diagnoses, along with undergoing rehabilitation programs.

Lancaster was supported in court by family and the court heard she was planning to stay with a friend in Gladstone initially when released from prison before returning to live with family in the Bundaberg region.

She pleaded guilty to one count each of trafficking drugs, possessing more than two grams of a schedule one drug, possessing a thing used in trafficking drugs and three counts of possessing drugs.

Lancaster had no criminal record prior to these offences.

She was sentenced to 2.5 years prison with 286 days presentence custody declared as time served and released immediately on parole.

Originally published as Kelby Louise Lancaster busted in Gladstone trafficking drugs