A nursing student busted with 23 bags of cocaine during a major police crackdown on ‘dial-dealer’ rings has told a court she turned to crime to help her single mum support her younger siblings.
Mariam Deng, 20, was arrested by undercover cops while dropping drugs to a customer in Randwick, in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs, on December 9 last year.
The arrest was one of 187 made under Operation Northrop as part of a major pre-Christmas sting, with officers seizing more than $250,000 cash and 633g of cocaine.
Appearing in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday flanked by a female friend, Deng pleaded guilty to three drug supply charges and one count of dealing with the proceeds of crime.
The court heard Deng was just 19 when she was caught with 19.33 grams of cocaine and $850 in cash after completing a drug deal in Randwick.
Mariam Deng covers her face as she sits in the gutter after being arrested by police in Randwick on December 9
According to police facts, undercover cops became suspicious after observing Deng driving a white Kia around Barangaroo in the city’s CBD.
They followed the teenager eight kilometres to Randwick where they saw her pick up another person, drive around the block, then drop the passenger off at the same spot.
Officers stopped Deng and searched the car, finding the drugs, cash, and an iPhone containing encrypted WhatsApp messages with directions for her to drop 2 bags to Barangaroo and one to Randwick. The total revenue for both jobs was $850.
In a sentencing report tendered in court, Deng said she had a tough childhood after her family migrated from Sudan in 2003.
The fourth-born out of eight kids, Deng said that from a young age her single mother has relied on her for support.
At the time of the offending, Deng said her three older siblings had left home and, after losing her job, she turned to drug dealing to help her mother financially.
The court heard Deng does not take drugs and is studying nursing at TAFE to obtain a diploma, with plans to apply to further her studies at Macquarie University.
Deng’s legal aid lawyer argued the teen should be considered for a community-based sentence because she had already been ‘punished’ due to ‘public admonishment’ resulting from media reports about her involvement in the drug bust.
Deng, from Erskine Park in the city’s west, was escorted away from the scene in handcuffs
The lawyer added that Deng was now employed, had expressed remorse and shame, and those around her have described the offending as ‘our of character’ and sparked by ‘desperation.’
The police prosecutor noted it was Deng’s first offence, but argued the seriousness of the charges warranted a jail term and the evidence showed there was a degree of planning.
He also noted the maximum penalty for drug supplying is two years behind bars and three years for dealing with the proceed of crime.
Addressing Deng, Magistrate Christine Haskett acknowledged the hardship of her family circumstances but said she could have asked her three older sisters – who are all employed – for financial help instead of turning to nefarious activities.
‘Did you ask them for help?’ Magistrate Haskett asked.
‘No,’ Deng replied.
‘They should be helping your family rather than just relying on you when you lost your job,’ Magistrate Haskett said.
Deng appeared in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, where she pleaded guilty to four charges
The 20-year-old refused to answer questions about the incident and covered her face as she left court
‘If there are problems in your family, it’s better to ask your older siblings for help rather than selling drugs.’
Magistrate Haskett sided with the defence, telling Deng: ‘I’m not going to send you to jail today’.
She placed her on four 12 month good behaviour bonds to be served concurrently with convictions recorded.
Outside court, Deng refused to answer reporters questions about her offending.
She covered her face with jacket and ran out the front door into an awaiting car.
Photos taken at the time of her arrest show a barefoot Deng sitting in the gutter shielding her face with her shirt as officers searched her white Kia, which was fitted with a baby seat in the back and littered with fast food packaging.
The two-month police operation allegedly netted up to $280,000 worth of coke, heroin, mushrooms, LSD tabs and cannabis gummies in busts across suburbs ranging from Surry Hills to Zetland, Newtown to Ramsgate and Narwee to Kellyville.
DailyMail
