Cocaine courier avoids jail after being nabbed transporting drugs across Tasmania

A young cocaine courier, who was busted by police transporting up to $50,000 worth of drugs from southern to northern Tasmania, has been given a fresh chance by a Hobart judge.

National Park man Javed John Dixon, left, with his cocaine trafficking co-accused Ryan James Penton, of Devonport. Picture: Alex Treacy

A young man living in the Mount Field national park area has been given a fresh chance after he was busted transporting up to $50,000 worth of cocaine.

Javed John Dixon, now 29, faced the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Friday after acting as a courier in May 2022, transporting the 97.3 grams of drugs from the south of the state to Launceston.

Justice Robert Pearce said Dixon did not sell or intend to sell the cocaine himself – instead it was agreed he would be paid $1000 to transport the drugs, and have his accommodation costs paid.

However, a car he was driving was pulled over by police at Longford, with Dixon and his co-accused Ryan James Penton jointly charged with trafficking in a controlled substance.

Police found several snap lock bags in the car – one on Penton and five in the vehicle’s centre console.

Penton was sentenced in December, receiving a six-month suspended sentence after the pair pleaded guilty.

Justice Pearce said since the crime, Dixon had stopped taking drugs and he was satisfied he was sorry for his actions.

The judge said Dixon was a qualified and experienced carpenter, holding a position of responsibility at his workplace, and was a trusted and valued employee.

However, he noted this crime was committed while Dixon was already on a suspended sentence for a common assault back in 2019.

But the judge decided that activating that sentence would be unjust.

“I have concluded that sending a person to prison in your position would be an unduly disproportionate response,” Justice Pearce said.

The judge substituted the existing sentence for a community correction order of two years, with Dixon not to commit an offence punishable by imprisonment in that time, and also unable to leave Tasmania without permission.

He must complete 84 hours of community service and pay the costs of drug analysis.

Dixon was sentenced to a new suspended sentence of six-months jail.

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