Robert Craig Williams sentenced for smuggling meth hidden in his underwear into Tasmania

A man on a drug treatment order was caught with his pants down trying to smuggle meth stashed in his undies into the Apple Isle. What happened when officers went through his phone.

Spirit of Tasmania ferry.

A man who tried to hide meth in his underwear while trying to smuggle the drug into the state on the Spirit of Tasmania has been put behind bars.

Tasmanian Police found 54.2 grams of methylamphetamine in crystalline form, which is estimated to have a street value of around $50,000, in Robert Craig Williams’ underwear following a search on the Spirit of Tasmania on October 9, 2022.

Justice Robert Pearce said that text messages on Williams’ phone indicated he intended to sell the meth.

Justice Pearce had also previously sentenced him to prison earlier in 2022 for a drug trafficking offence that took place in 2020 and had placed him under a treatment order.

“Unless something was done to address the cycle of drug use and crime to which you had been subject for more than 20 years you were destined to spend much of your life in prison.

Methylamphetamine seized by police Picture: Linda Higginson

You had already served long periods of custody,” Justice Pearce said to Williams.

“I explained to you that the order was aimed primarily at your rehabilitation rather than punishment, that it would be challenging and that it would be up to you to make the most of the opportunity then offered to you.”

However, Justice Pearce said Williams was found with meth on the Spirit of Tasmania while he was subject to the drug treatment order.

“You did some beneficial things while on the order. You ceased use of cannabis.

“You remained in contact with your case worker and attended counselling at the alcohol and drug service.

“You complied with the suboxone program and completed the EQUIPS addiction program. “However, you began to commit other offences almost immediately. Some of those offences were not related to drugs, but some were.”

On March 22, 2023, Williams’ drug treatment order was cancelled.

“In substitution for the order, you were sentenced to imprisonment for 16 months from 27 June, the reduction in two months to reflect the level of compliance with the order while it was in force,” Justice Pearce said.

“In addition, for the new offending, you were sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 12 months, four months of which was to be served concurrently with the 16-month sentence. “The result was a total term of two years from 27 June 2022. The punitive effect of that total sentence is increased because no parole order was made.”

For his most recent crime, Justice Pearce praised Williams for pleading guilty.

“However, given your repeated offending over many years, you have little claim to any remorse,” he said.

“In determining the sentence I am now to impose, I take into account the terms of imprisonment you are already required to serve.

“However, the crime to which you now plead guilty involves separate criminality as to which you are entitled to little lenience.

“The evils of trafficking in methylamphetamine have been explained many times.

“The drug is a scourge on society, and those who seek to profit from its sale must expect to be punished.”

Justice Pearce sentenced Williams to 18 months imprisonment.

“Because of the absence of a parole order in respect to the earlier sentence, I order that six months of that term be served concurrently with the sentences you are currently liable to serve,” he said.

“I order that you not be eligible for parole until you have served 12 months of that term.

“The effect of that is that you will, taking into account the sentences already in place, be liable to serve a total term of three years from 27 June 2022 and that you will be eligible for parole after having served a total term of two years and six months from that date.”