Man sought 'easy money' as $300m drug deal cash courier

Antonio Spitaleri, 49, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Wednesday to one count of dealing in the proceeds of crime worth more than $100,000.

Spitaleri left his home at Lilyfield in Sydney's inner west with another man to drive to Brisbane on October 30, 2019 with $340,000 in cash.

An Australian crime syndicate intended Spitaleri to hand over the cash in the car park of a golf club in southeast Brisbane as payment for 150kg of MDMA.

Australian Federal Police estimated the MDMA was enough to manufacture 15 million ecstasy tablets with a total value of more than $300 million.

The Queensland Police, AFP and Netherlands Police had already infiltrated a Dutch crime family's plan to import more than 850kg of MDMA into Australia.

The MDMA in Brisbane was swapped for an inert substance and undercover AFP officers had planned to meet Spitaleri but had to cancel the operation.

Spitaleri was later observed returning the bag of cash to an address in Sydney.

Prosecuting counsel Clare O'Connor said she accepted Spitaleri was not aware of how much money was involved in the deal and the extent of the international drug import plot.

"I can't point to (Spitaleri) having profited or had an expectation of profit or positive benefits ... but the other facts lend to a finding that there was a profit for him," Ms O'Connor said.

Judge Michael Burnett agreed he could not find mitigating circumstances from a lack of personal benefit.

"He would hope to at least get petrol money driving from Sydney to Brisbane," he said.

Spitaleri's barrister Joshua Underwood said his client felt bitterly ashamed about his offending.

"His affidavit outlines the remorse he feels for his singularly stupid and criminal behaviour," he said.

Mr Underwood said Spitaleri's decision-making had been affected by his drug addiction that developed as a result of a death in the family combined with a traumatic brain injury.

"He's now finally clean and working hard in the construction industry," Mr Underwood said.

Judge Burnett said Spitaleri had a prior conviction for supplying a commercial quantity of drugs in NSW in 2012 and should have reasonably known the money he was carrying in Brisbane was the proceeds of crime.

"You should have known better. You were lured into what you thought was easy money as the courier," he said.

Judge Burnett said it would be counterproductive to send Spitaleri back to prison after he had made advanced efforts at rehabilitation over the past four years.

Spitaleri was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with an order he be released after serving five months, which was equal to the time he had spent in custody prior to being granted bail.

He was also placed on a $1000 good behaviour bond for a period of two years.

Australian Associated Press