Taleah McLaughlin: Devonport ice trafficker ordered to repay $50,000 of ill-begotten cash

A Tasmanian single mother who failed to escape the clutches of methamphetamine addiction – despite already being busted for trafficking once – set up shop again with disastrous consequences, a court has heard.

Devonport methamphetamine trafficker Taleah Maree McLaughlin, 38. Picture: Facebook

A Tasmanian single mother who failed to escape the clutches of methamphetamine addiction – despite already being busted for trafficking once – set up shop again with disastrous consequences, a court has heard.

Devonport woman Taleah Maree McLaughlin, 38, previously pleaded guilty to seven drug-related offences, most seriously trafficking in a controlled substance, meth, also known as ice.

She also pleaded guilty to possessing a drug utensil, meth, diazepam, and cannabis.

McLaughlin was sentenced last week in the Burnie Supreme Court by Justice Tamara Jago.

Justice Jago, “with some hesitation,” sentenced her to 16 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of three years, conditional upon McLaughlin satisfactorily performing a two-year community corrections order with 98 hours of community service.

She was also ordered to repay $49,875 of crime proceeds by way of pecuniary penalty.

McLaughlin trafficked in meth between May 1, 2021 and July 7, 2022, the court was told.

Burnie Supreme and Magisterial Courts. Picture: File

Her operation was detected on July 6 last year via a police search warrant, which uncovered 22.33 grams of meth in a snaplock bag hidden behind a fake power point in a wall.

Smaller quantities of meth and cannabis were discovered in her bedroom, two smoking utensils were discovered, and McLaughlan also had a quantity of meth and cash on her person.

In total, she was found in possession of 31.12g of meth, Justice Jago told the court.

Analysis of her mobile phone uncovered messages consistent with a drug trafficking operation.

A second search warrant was executed the following day, July 7, 2022, which found additional illicit substances and contraband: namely, a further 28.68g of meth, 28 diazepam tablets, a set of scales, another ice pipe, more cannabis, $1800 cash, and a second mobile phone.

Devonport woman Taleah Maree McLaughlin, 38, has been convicted a second time of trafficking in a controlled substance. Picture: File

According to Justice Jago, when interviewed by police, McLaughlin admitted to being addicted to meth “on and off” for approximately 11 years.

At times, she would inhale staggering quantities of the drug – up to an ounce per week.

McLaughlin told police this was why she got back into drug trafficking, so as to cover the costs of her own addiction, Justice Jago said.

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Between June 2021 and July 2022, McLaughlin sold somewhere between $49,875 and $74,812 worth of meth, depending upon the quantity in which the substance was sold, the court heard.

Had the full weight of meth she was found in possession of on July 6–7, 2022, been sold, she would have netted an additional $41,860 and $59,800.

Justice Jago told the court McLaughlin had a “significant history” of drug offending stretching back to 2011, none more serious than her previous conviction, on July 3, 2019, for trafficking in controlled substances.

On that occasion, McLaughlin trafficked in meth, buprenorphine and cannabis between December 9, 2017 and December 9, 2018.

She was sentenced to a drug treatment order but failed to complete it and had to serve part of a custodial sentence, Justice Jago said.

However, McLaughlin, upon her release, “had difficulty disassociating” herself from her past lifestyle and associates and little changed regarding her substance abuse, which quickly spiralled.

Justice Jago noted that McLaughlin, a single mother of an adolescent girl, did finally seem to be making positive changes in her life, having completed a 10-week residential program.

“I am told that you have not used illicit substances since your release from that program in April 2023,” Justice Jago said.