A Nigerian-born man who attempted to smuggle over $2 million worth of drugs into Tasmania through the mail has been sentenced to four years in prison.
Ifeanyi Ani, 39, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Tasmania to conspiracy, attempting to traffic in a controlled substance, and trafficking in a controlled substance.
The court heard that Ani, who was born and educated in the West African country, entered into an agreement with a person he knew in Hong Kong in early 2023 to provide Tasmanian addresses where drugs could be sent in return for money.
He arranged for packages containing methylamphetamine to be sent to his workmate and a female associate between February and May 2023.
Five packages were intercepted by the Australian Border Force in New Zealand, Sydney and Belgium during this period, with a total weight of just over 2 kilograms and a potential street value of up to around $2.1 million.
Another package addressed to his associate from the Philippines was intercepted by Tasmania Police in August 2023, containing over 500 grams of heroin concealed inside ornaments worth between $95,000 and $506,000.
The associate picked up the parcel while unknowingly being monitored by police and was taken into custody shortly afterward, leading to Ani’s arrest the next day.
While he was locked up, another box of ornaments addressed to the female associate arrived containing almost 500 grams of heroin of similar value.
The court noted that Ani has no prior convictions and has been a “model prisoner” since being behind bars.
Justice Robert Pearce said Ani was not a drug user and was motivated by financial stress due to his visa and relocation expenses to get involved in the scheme.
He told police he intended to take the drugs to Melbourne and was offered $10,000 for each package that arrived successfully.
Justice Pearce said that even though none of the deliveries were successful and Ani received no payment, the large quantity and potential value of the drugs involved made it a serious case.
“Your participation extended over a number of months,” he said. “You had, on the information I have been given, a relatively subordinate role in the trafficking hierarchy … Without persons willing to act in the role you assumed, the chain of distribution is made more difficult.”
“I do not see that your lack of knowledge about the type and quantity of drugs means that you should be treated any more leniently.”
“Knowing participants should not be permitted to distance themselves from the trafficking by remaining ignorant of the details.”
Justice Pearce said a large commercial quantity of illicit drugs would have entered the community if the operation had succeeded.
“You are convicted … You are sentenced to imprisonment for four years from 29 August 2023,” he said.
Ani will not become eligible for parole until he has served half of his four-year sentence.
