Tanya Madge Nelson jailed for trafficking methylamphetamine in St George area

A St George budgie breeder’s attempts at hiding her clandestine methylamphetamine operation using bird code wasn’t enough to stop her getting put behind bars.

A budgie breeder who attempted to use bird-related code to conceal her drug dealing operation from police has been jailed.

St George woman Tanya Madge Nelson was sentenced in the Toowoomba Supreme Court after pleading guilty to trafficking methylamphetamine.

The court was told that between June 2019 and May 2020, the 40-year-old was involved in distributing small quantities of ice in the area, and would make the eight- hour round trip to Toowoomba to buy more drugs.

Crown prosecutor Ellen Fletcher said there were “elements of sophistication” in the operation, which included the use of code words inspired by Nelson’s legitimate budgie breeding business.

The court was also told Nelson used drug runners to handle the drop-off of methylamphetamine to buyers, and they were paid in drugs.

Ms Fletcher said despite police conducting a search of her home on October 1, 2019, and the arrest of one of her employees, she continued to traffic ice until she was charged on May 30 last year when police conducted a second search warrant.

In Nelson’s defence, barrister Jessica Goldie submitted a period of custody wasn’t necessary as she had undergone extensive rehabilitation treatment to overcome her own ice addiction since she had been arrested.

Ms Goldie said the quantities involved were of a street level and there was no financial benefit.

Justice Peter Callaghan said Nelson was “cunning” in the way she ran her business.

“Not only were you distributing this dreadful drug into the community yourself, you were assisting others to turn themselves into criminals,” he said.

Nelson was convicted and sentenced to a four year jail term, with a non parole period of six months, as well as three years probation.