Javed Dixon, Ryan James Penton guilty of courier role in cocaine trafficking operation
A Tasmanian duo has pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to trafficking in cocaine, playing the role of couriers in a deal that could have been worth up to $50,000. Here’s what happened in court.
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A Tasmanian duo has admitted to trafficking in cocaine, playing the role of couriers in a deal that could have been worth up to $50,000.
Devonport man Ryan James Penton, 34, and National Park man Javed John Dixon, 29, previously pleaded guilty to trafficking in a controlled substance.
Penton was sentenced in the Launceston Supreme Court on Tuesday, with Dixon to be sentenced on February 2, 2024.
Penton and Dixon were detected in a vehicle being driven by Dixon near Longford just before midnight on May 12 last year, Justice Robert Pearce told the court.
Penton had a small snaplock bag in his wallet containing 1.08g of cocaine, but a more fulsome search of the vehicle uncovered five additional bags of cocaine in the centre console.
Three of the bags weighed approximately an ounce (28g), one contained half an ounce (14g), and the final bag contained 1.2g, for a total of 97.3g.
“Sold in 1.0 gram deals the cocaine had a potential value which might have approached $50,000,” Justice Pearce said.
“Sold in larger amounts the value was still between $21,000 and $27,000.”
Penton admitted to police to being a cocaine user and possessing the drug, but did not admit that the larger bags had any ulterior motive.
It emerged that Penton was assisting Dixon at the request of a third person to transport the cocaine from southern Tasmania. The pair were to be paid $500 for their services, Justice Pearce said.
Since the offending, Penton had weaned himself from illicit substances and “formed a new relationship with a person who has been a good influence on you and will not tolerate drug use or alcohol abuse”.
Penton, who works full-time in the mining industry, would continue to be subject to random drug tests under the terms of his employment.
Justice Pearce said Penton had used his arrest and the court process “as an opportunity to make a clean start concerning illicit drug use and you recognise the personal and financial benefits which have resulted”.
He noted that Penton had no prior convictions for drug-related offending.
However, the seriousness of the offence still warranted a term of imprisonment, although it would be suspended, Justice Pearce said.
“You were, at the time of this crime, of sufficient intelligence and insight to understand that those who become involved with the trade in illicit drugs should expect to be punished, for reasons which have been stated many times,” he said.
“That applies to couriers just as much as it does to those further up the chain because all play an important part in the criminal trade.”
Justice Pearce sentenced Penton to six months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of 18 months.
“You should understand... that offenders generally only get one chance,” Justice Pearce said.
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