http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/03/02/211101_scalesofjustice.html
DAVID KILLICK | February 24, 2011 12.01am
A THRIVING business selling "legal highs" has landed a Howrah storeman in court after his Chinese supplier sent him several kilograms of a banned drug.
Mitchell John Campbell, 23, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Hobart yesterday to trafficking a controlled substance.
The charge relates to the sale of methylmethcathinone, a party drug also known as israelis, which started to turn up in Hobart in 2008.
Crown prosecutor Allison Shand told the court Campbell was arrested in May 2009 after police intercepted several bulk shipments of the drug from Shanghai.
A search of his house revealed several 1kg packages of white powder, thousands of empty pill capsules, two laptop computers and several thousand dollars in cash.
Campbell told police he had been ordering products from the Chinese Neo Organic website since 2009.
His internet-based business, called Neobase, sold herbal highs which Campbell believed were legal, although he became suspicious when the powders he ordered arrived labelled as "bath salts".
The estimated value of drugs Campbell possessed or sold could be several hundred thousand dollars, the court heard.
Emails revealed he had discussed buying up to 50kg of the drug for up to $250,000.
Defence lawyer Jim Wilkinson told the court his client had started a legitimate business but had been led astray by his suppliers who told him the drug was legal in Australia.
"He believed everything he was doing was legal, however he was young and naive," Mr Wilkinson told the court.
Justice Shan Tennent will sentence Campbell on Tuesday.
DAVID KILLICK | March 02, 2011 12.01am
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/03/02/211101_scalesofjustice.html
A HOWRAH storeman who sold what he thought were legal highs over the internet has been convicted of drug trafficking.
Mitchell John Campbell, 23, pleaded guilty to the offence last week and was sentenced yesterday by Justice Shan Tennent.
The charge related to the sale of 4-methylmethcathinone and ethylcathinone, party drugs also known as israelis, which started to turn up in Hobart in 2008.
Campbell was arrested in May 2009 after police intercepted several bulk shipments of the drugs sent through the post from suppliers in Shanghai.
A search of his house revealed several one-kilogram packages of white powder, thousands of empty pill capsules, two laptop computers and several thousand dollars in cash.
Campbell's internet-based business, called Neobase, sold herbal highs which he believed were legal, although he became suspicious when the powders he ordered arrived labelled as "bath salts".
Justice Tennent said Campbell had been naive in the beginning and reckless towards the end of his offending.
"You were young and looking for an opportunity and somewhat naively accepted the assurances you were initially given that this particular product was legal," she said.
"While all of that may be true, you did not stop your activities when you realised the potential illegality of them but continued on, even increasing the scale of your business."
Justice Tennent sentenced Campbell to six months in jail, suspended for three years.
She also ordered he pay a $10,000 penalty from the proceeds.
DAVID KILLICK | February 24, 2011 12.01am
A THRIVING business selling "legal highs" has landed a Howrah storeman in court after his Chinese supplier sent him several kilograms of a banned drug.
Mitchell John Campbell, 23, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Hobart yesterday to trafficking a controlled substance.
The charge relates to the sale of methylmethcathinone, a party drug also known as israelis, which started to turn up in Hobart in 2008.
Crown prosecutor Allison Shand told the court Campbell was arrested in May 2009 after police intercepted several bulk shipments of the drug from Shanghai.
A search of his house revealed several 1kg packages of white powder, thousands of empty pill capsules, two laptop computers and several thousand dollars in cash.
Campbell told police he had been ordering products from the Chinese Neo Organic website since 2009.
His internet-based business, called Neobase, sold herbal highs which Campbell believed were legal, although he became suspicious when the powders he ordered arrived labelled as "bath salts".
The estimated value of drugs Campbell possessed or sold could be several hundred thousand dollars, the court heard.
Emails revealed he had discussed buying up to 50kg of the drug for up to $250,000.
Defence lawyer Jim Wilkinson told the court his client had started a legitimate business but had been led astray by his suppliers who told him the drug was legal in Australia.
"He believed everything he was doing was legal, however he was young and naive," Mr Wilkinson told the court.
Justice Shan Tennent will sentence Campbell on Tuesday.
DAVID KILLICK | March 02, 2011 12.01am
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/03/02/211101_scalesofjustice.html
A HOWRAH storeman who sold what he thought were legal highs over the internet has been convicted of drug trafficking.
Mitchell John Campbell, 23, pleaded guilty to the offence last week and was sentenced yesterday by Justice Shan Tennent.
The charge related to the sale of 4-methylmethcathinone and ethylcathinone, party drugs also known as israelis, which started to turn up in Hobart in 2008.
Campbell was arrested in May 2009 after police intercepted several bulk shipments of the drugs sent through the post from suppliers in Shanghai.
A search of his house revealed several one-kilogram packages of white powder, thousands of empty pill capsules, two laptop computers and several thousand dollars in cash.
Campbell's internet-based business, called Neobase, sold herbal highs which he believed were legal, although he became suspicious when the powders he ordered arrived labelled as "bath salts".
Justice Tennent said Campbell had been naive in the beginning and reckless towards the end of his offending.
"You were young and looking for an opportunity and somewhat naively accepted the assurances you were initially given that this particular product was legal," she said.
"While all of that may be true, you did not stop your activities when you realised the potential illegality of them but continued on, even increasing the scale of your business."
Justice Tennent sentenced Campbell to six months in jail, suspended for three years.
She also ordered he pay a $10,000 penalty from the proceeds.
