A drug trafficker has had her appeal against an 11-year sentence for her role in a wider heroin ring, which included using a child courier, struck out.
The Supreme Court heard that Thi Nho Em Le initially pleaded guilty in the County Court on November 22, 2013, to one charge of trafficking heroin. She was sentenced to 11 years’ jail the following August.
She and three family members had been arrested on August 12, 2010, after a nine-month investigation. The Supreme Court heard last month that Le’s role in the heroin trafficking business included storing and preparing drugs at her sister’s house in St Albans.
A police raid on August 12, 2010, uncovered $200,000 in cash at the St Albans flat. A family home in Keilor Downs was also used by Le’s relatives to traffic heroin, and a police search there found $379,740 in cash, $54,500 in casino gambling chips and jewellery valued at $246,560, as well as nearly 200 grams of heroin.
Le initially denied any involvement in drug trafficking and said she rarely saw her sister.
Judge Frank Redlich threw out Le’s appeal on the grounds there was “insufficient disparity” between her sentence and the sentences of her co-accused.
“The judge, who is very experienced, had been involved in the sentencing of all of the family members and was very familiar with the circumstances of the offending in each criminal enterprise and the individual circumstances of each offending family member,” Judge Redlich said.
“He gave the most careful consideration to each of their sentences.
“He took into account that the appellant, by daily dealings, trafficked a very large amount of heroin over some eight months, utilised a child to traffic and was apparently able to reap enormous profits,” he said, adding Le’s role meant she was able to “acquire very substantial assets therefrom”.
