Drug-trafficking courier caught on ACT border handed six years' imprisonment

A 34-year-old whose drug-trafficking offences were described as being “fuelled by an out-of-control addiction to cocaine” has been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

Andrew James O’Keefe was sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court on Friday (5 July) over two counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

One offence related to the cutting and packaging of 3.284 kg of cocaine, and the other to the transportation of 4.1 kg of methamphetamine from Victoria to Canberra.

The combined street value of the drugs equated to more than $1.6 million.

Justice Louise Taylor outlined O’Keefe had been involved in encrypted group chats with a co-offender and an unknown person (believed to be in Turkiye or Lebanon) about the movement of drugs.

She said O’Keefe and a co-accused had cut the cocaine with boric acid in the garage of a Fyshwick car shop on 5 June, 2023.

O’Keefe then also agreed to drive to the Melbourne suburb of Donnybrook to pick up the meth for $6000 in payment.

Police intercepted his van on the way back from Melbourne on the Barton Highway about 3:55 pm on 6 June, 2023. O’Keefe told them he had been visiting a family farm in Murrumbateman.

“[They] observed O’Keefe to have glassy eyes, his face was twitching and he appeared to be nervous; his palms were sweaty and he was continually rubbing them together,” police facts stated.

A further search warrant was then executed at his Phillip home and he was arrested.

In her sentencing remarks, Justice Taylor noted while O’Keefe wasn’t involved in sourcing the drugs or paying people to distribute them, he was being paid for the tasks he performed.

“The offender’s role in the enterprise, while not insignificant, was as a trusted associate … rather than high up in the enterprise,” she said.

“[However] his role as a courier is critical … [and serves] an important role in an organised criminal operation.”

She noted O’Keefe had offered to do future drug runs for $5000 on each occasion.

Justice Taylor accepted O’Keefe’s main motivation for participating in the drug trafficking was “undoubtedly financially motivated” as he was addicted to cocaine and had owed about $30,000 to his supplier at the time of his arrest.

But while he wasn’t motivated by “profit alone”, she said his actions meant he was helping drugs reach end users and would be harmful to the general community.

“The offender is a good example of the havoc drugs can wreck in the community … [and how] drug addictions steal futures,” Justice Taylor said.

“[He’s recognised] his actions were fuelling the same life for others that he wanted to escape for himself.”

Justice Taylor noted O’Keefe had only spent eight days in custody since his arrest, and used his time waiting for his sentence studying at the University of Canberra and undertaking drug and alcohol counselling.

He had started using cocaine again in 2023 due to “stressful life events” and had been using “cocaine as a mask” to manage his depressive disorder, as his business was failing.

O’Keefe had written to the court expressing his remorse and shame, and Justice Taylor said she accepted he was taking “full responsibility for his conduct”.

He pleaded guilty to the charges in April.

Despite O’Keefe’s rehabilitative progress and being assessed as “capable of reform”, Justice Taylor said the seriousness of the offending, the maximum sentences of 25 years available for the charges, and the impact it could have had on the community meant full-time custody was needed.

“[He has] enormous potential for a much more productive existence,” she said.

“This matter stands as an example of the very real risk an offender takes [when engaging in this behaviour] … it’s a use of his life he’ll never get back.”

She sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years and 10 months.

Justice Taylor expressed her “sincere hope” O’Keefe would continue on his rehabilitative path.

“I wish you the best of luck.”