STATE NEWS: A NSW mother who sold her trademark glitter liquid ecstasy for financial gain and to fund her own drug habit has been jailed for at least three years.
Taia Kakahi cried and wiped away tears during proceedings in Wollongong District Court on Friday where Judge Sharron Norton sentenced her to five years in prison with a non-parole period of three years for supplying drugs.
The mother-of-three, 38, pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying illegal drugs, including GBL and ice, after she was arrested in April.
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"She was addicted to drugs and was motivated by a perceived need to feed her habit," Judge Norton said.
"She did not have a lavish lifestyle...supplying drugs gave her financial independence.
"She operated a business of sourcing and on-supplying drugs.
"There was planning involved but it was not sophisticated."
An agreed sets of facts tendered to court said police started investigating the supply of gamma butyrolactone, which is commonly referred to as GBL, liquid ecstasy, "G" or "drinks", in March 2020 and identified Kakahi as a supplier in the Illawarra.
Police stopped Kakahi's rental car, a Toyota Kluger, on the M1 at Figtree around 8.30pm on April 16, before discovering she was in possession of the party drug.
There were two other women in the car and the trio were also breaching COVID restrictions.
Neither Kakahi or her passengers could provide police with a reasonable excuse for being out that night.
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Officers searched the vehicle, at which time they found a 375ml 'Voss' brand water bottle, containing a clear, glittery liquid.
Police then discovered two further bottles containing the same liquid in varying quantities in the driver's side door.
Kakahi admitted to owning the three bottles, describing them as "drinks" that were "most likely" an illicit substance.
In the agreed facts, Kakahi admitted 400mL of the GBL was destined to be sold to her associates and just over 300mL was for personal use.
Police also found a drug ledger for sales totalling 2.4 litres of GBL between April 12 and 16, as well as digital scales, a small spoon, glass pipe and a glitter kit containing two small tubs of silver and gold glitter.
She was also found with 26 strips of buprenorphine, 1.5 grams of meth and $470 in cash.
Kakahi was arrested and her phone was seized, revealing further drug sales where her associates would regularly ask, via message, if she had any "drinks".
Kakahi pleaded guilty to supplying to supply 7.8 kilograms of GBL, two kilograms of GBL and 42 grams of meth to an associate in Revesby on April 5. The sales took place between March 26 and April 16 last year.
In a letter of apology to the court, Kakahi said she understood the seriousness of her crime and explained she started selling drugs to support her addiction.
"I was self medicating with illicit drugs," she said.
"It gave me financial freedom and independence from my ex-husband for the first time.
"As a 38-year-old, I finally didn't have to ask for money."
Kakahi told a psychologist she turned to drugs following childhood trauma and was working a hairdresser but claimed she was in two abusive relationships which also led her supplying drugs.
Kakahi also reported suffering from multiple mental health conditions.
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Judge Norton accepted Kakahi was remorseful and showed insight into her actions, also noting she continued to have the support of her family and believed if she remained abstinent from drugs then she was at a low risk of reoffending.
"I find the remorse expressed to the [psychologist] is genuine and she has gained some insight into the gravity of her offending," she said.
"I accept for many years prior to her offending she was a person of good character."
Judge Norton also noted the impact Kakahi's incarceration would have on her children and that her family were now aware of the extent of her drug use and could help her remain sober upon release.
Kakahi will be eligible for parole in May 2023.
