Canberra man sentenced for role in trafficking $1.6 million in methamphetamine, cocaine (2024)

A Canberra man has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to trafficking in commercial quantities of more than 3 kilograms of cocaine and 4 kilograms of methamphetamine.

It's estimated those drugs, which were bound for re-sale, were worth upwards of $1.6 million.

The ACT Supreme Court heard 34-year-old Andrew James O'Keefe had been addicted to drugs, depressed and in debt at the time he agreed to participate in the scheme.

He was arrested last June when the van he had driven to Melbourne to pick up drugs was intercepted by police.

In her sentencing remarks, Justice Louise Taylor acknowledged O'Keefe's strong prospects for rehabilitation and reform.

But she was ultimately forced to consider the "real risk" an offender takes when they align themselves with those who "seek to exploit and profit" from drug harm.

"Drug addiction steals futures, it fractures families," she told the court.

O'Keefe had pleaded guilty to two charges of trafficking above commercial quantities of controlled drugs and will be eligible for parole in April 2027.

O'Keefe financially motivated and addicted to cocaine at time of actions

The court heard O'Keefe was added to several group chats on an encrypted messaging app, Threema, in early June last year.

According to the agreed facts, he and a co-accused, as well as another unknown user, messaged back and forth regarding their plans to "cut" cocaine and package it for resale.

CCTV footage from a business in Fyshwick showed the pair blending cocaine and mixing it with boric acid as well as packaging the drugs for individual resale.

The total value of that cocaine came to around $672,000.

In another group chat on the app, O'Keefe was asked to drive to Melbourne to pick up a large quantity of methamphetamine, which he agreed to do.

After he picked up the drugs from the Donnybrook address, O'Keefe sent a message to the group chat saying "all done boys, thank you".

O'Keefe's vehicle was intercepted later that afternoon by police near Murrumbateman on the Barton Highway.

Police said he appeared nervous, had glassy eyes and sweaty palms which he kept rubbing together.

A search warrant was obtained by police and about 4kgs, worth almost $1 million, was later detected in a hidden hydraulic compartment of the vehicle.

Other materials relating to drug trafficking were also found in the car.

Justice Taylor described O'Keefe's role in the scheme as a "trusted associate" rather than someone who was "high-up".

She said there was nothing to suggest he had any financial gain beyond the specific payments he was promised for his involvement.

However, his motivation was still "undoubtedly" financial given he was addicted to cocaine and in $30,000 debt to his supplier at the time, she said.

The court heard O'Keefe's business was in freefall, he was depressed and he believed this was the only way he could pay his debts back.

Other messages on the encrypted app's group chats showed O'Keefe saying he intended to move to Queensland but indicated he was willing to continue travelling to make further drug runs.

Strong rehabilitation prospects

The court heard O'Keefe had worked hard on his rehabilitation since being arrested.

That included abstaining from cocaine, spending time with his supportive family and partner and participating in drug and alcohol counselling.

Despite struggling to gain employment, O'Keefe had been working towards a tertiary qualification.

Justice Taylor said he had been "entirely compliant" with his bail conditions.

She also noted he had one prior conviction about a decade ago, also for a drug offence, saying the lessons learned from that incident had proven "not entirely effective".

She warned the custodial environment may negatively impact upon his progress since arrest, but said the sentence must reflect the seriousness of the crime.

That was especially given the drugs were "bound for an end user".

"Our communities bear the brunt ... of drug use and drug dependence," she said.

O'Keefe was given a non-parole period of two years, and 10 months.

Editor's note (25/07/2024): The headline on this story has been changed to include the offender's middle name.