A man who trafficked 1730 kilograms of fish over a 15 months will have to pay a $38,395 special penalty and a $4000 fine after pleading guilty to charges under the Living Marine Resources Management Act.
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Darrell Richard Wells, 39, of St Leonards, trafficked in the fish to feed an addiction to ice (methylamphetamine) between August 2014 and December 2015.
Crown prosecutor Verity Dawkins told the Supreme Court that Wells did not have a commercial fishing licence and that there was element of deceit in the trafficking operation.
The fish were sent via Toll Transport to Melbourne and a small consignment was sold to George Town Seafoods. Fish species trafficked included calamari, garfish, flake and black bream.
Defence counsel Lucy Flanagan said any money obtained was used for drugs which he became addicted to after a double tragedy. Justice Stephen Estcourt said Wells made about the $7500 from his crimes which was sold on drugs. He said he received payments into his bank account.
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