A Chinese national has told the ACT Supreme Court he was buying the drug ice in bulk so it would be cheaper for him and his friends, and the only profit he made was to fund his own habit.
Lei Zhao, 40, pleaded guilty to three charges of trafficking ice and one charge of trafficking heroin.
Zhao was arrested in July last year after a police sting involving phone intercepts found numerous drug transactions in which he would talk in code to customers.
He would refer to "an hour" or "a beer" for an ounce of ice, which police say is worth $6,000, or "half an hour" for half an ounce.
Through an interpreter, Zhao told the court he did not seek a profit.
"I sold the drugs so I would be able to fund my own drugs," he said.
He told the sentencing hearing he would not name his suppliers due to "a danger" to his family.
In today's hearing it emerged Zhao had received between $300,000 and $400,000 from his parents in China from 2012 to 2016.
Prosecutor Emilija Beljic questioned why he needed more money.
"If she was giving you that, why did you need to drug deal, given you were earning a significant amount?" she asked.
Zhao replied: "Because that money was not enough."
"Honestly speaking I think I was stupid."
"I feel I was wrong. I shouldn't have done it.
"It has caused great harm to my family and the general community."
Zhao said he did not want his children to know he was in jail, so he reached an agreement with his wife to tell them he was away working.
Zhao will be sentenced next month.
