Illawarra woman pleads guilty to would-be interstate drug supply

Ashly Hollis, 29, was living in Townsville, in north east Queensland, in mid-2016 when she contacted a friend from the Illawarra inquiring about the cost of methamphetamine.

“Do you reckon it’s possible for you to somehow get some gear up here to Townsville,” she wrote to the male friend.

“They sell it for $100 a point.”

Hollis and the man continued to exchange text messages about the intended deal, with Hollis saying she knew people who would contribute to the cost before inquiring if the ice she’d be purchasing was “good quality”.

“Isn’t it always?” came the man’s response.

Hollis began discussing purchasing large quantities from the man, saying she could deposit multiple amounts of $10,000 in his bank account until the full payment was received.

The man shied away from bank transfers, fearing it might be flagged by authorities. Instead he asked for smaller transfers and partial payment in cash.

Court documents said Hollis and her partner arrived in the Illawarra on June 12.

Three days later, police stopped Hollis’ vehicle on Shellharbour Road. She was held at the scene while other officers went to the house she was staying at a searched her room.

Police uncovered 112.7grams of methamphetamine inside the sleeve of a jacket.

When asked about the drugs, Hollis initially denied any knowledge of them, however later told police she’d picked them up for a friend and didn’t know how much she was transporting.

Hollis had been due to stand trial on drug supply charges in Wollongong District Court this week however pleaded guilty on Monday morning before her trial began.

The case was adjourned to November for sentencing with Hollis allowed to return to her Tullimbar home on bail.