Criminals running sophisticated dial-a dealer drug supply rings are luring suburban mums and dads into a life of crime using Snapchat.

People living innocent suburban lives in Sydney are being swept up in police operations while the masterminds stay protected behind a social media veil.

These unwitting foot soldiers face serious jail time, even if they have no prior criminal record.

“Drug suppliers like Snapchat as the message evaporates,” criminal solicitor, Mathew Nott, said.

“The drug masterminds post something like ‘Want to work out of home as a courier and earn $50 an hour’ to engage with unsuspecting people who are struggling to turn a dollar.

“In the era of Uber eats, people are open to this sort of dial a drug dealer concept.

“After a few exchanges on social media, the person arrives at the pick-up location but instead of being given a legal package to deliver, they are given a few ounces of cocaine and a burner mobile phone.

“In that moment, with the promise of easy cash and thinking it is all low risk, they take the drugs and the phone and await the incoming messages which give them the addresses to drop the drugs off.”

At the end of the evening, the courier will be given a nominal fee per drug drop, perhaps as low as $50 per deal, depending on the type of drug.

Meanwhile, as the police swoop on the low-level courier, the masterminds of the scheme have changed addresses, changed phones, and hidden their identity on social media.

Drug related crime is exploding in NSW, according to police records.

Crime reported to police, or detected by police, relating to dealing or trafficking in cocaine has increased by 21%.

Importing drugs is up by 23.9% though the baseline offence count is low at 200 offences

Possession and/or use of other drugs is up by 11.5% with the number of criminal incidents high 6,501 counts.

Mr Nott said that getting caught up in a dial-a-dealer scheme could result in additional non-drug related charges also being levelled by police.

“If apprehended, you can be expected to face the normal range of charges such as supply prohibited drug and possess prohibited drug,” Mr Nott said.

“However, you are also likely to be charged with offences such as knowingly deal with proceeds of crime which are related to the fact that, if you are acting as a courier, you are likely in possession of a bundle of cash arising out of the sale of the illegal drugs.”

NSW Police recently said during Strike Force Dolci investigations into the supply of drugs they uncovered a dial-a-dealer drug syndicate believed to be connected to an organised criminal network.

On 5 February, news broke that three men have been charged, including a key member of an organised crime group, over an alleged dial-a-dealer drug syndicate in Sydney’s south west.

In Nov 2021, three people have been charged after almost $128,000 worth of cocaine was seized as part of police investigations into a ‘dial-a-dealer’ operation in Sydney.

If you have been charged with a drug offence, contact Nott and Co Lawyers on www.nottandcolaweyrs.com.au