Best Drug Supply Lawyers Sydney | 300+ Google Reviews

In a decisive courtroom win, Steven Mercael of Criminal Lawyers Group has successfully defended a client charged with drug supply after police located 10 grams of cocaine in his possession. The client was found not guilty in the Local Court after the court accepted that the drugs were for personal use rather than for supply.

Case Background

The client, a professional man with no prior criminal history, was stopped and searched by NSW Police in inner Sydney. Officers located approximately 10 grams of cocaine, divided into multiple resealable bags, along with a small amount of cash. The client was charged with:

Supplying a Prohibited Drug under Section 25(1) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW)

Despite no observed transactions or other supply-related evidence, police proceeded with a supply charge based solely on the traffickable quantity (which for cocaine is 3 grams or more).

If convicted, the client faced a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and/or a $220,000 fine, along with significant consequences to his employment, travel rights, and reputation.

Legal Defence Strategy

Upon being retained, Steven Mercael and his team at Criminal Lawyers Group acted swiftly to:

Examine the police brief and forensic evidence
Present evidence of the client’s history of personal use
Engage an expert toxicologist to confirm the quantity was consistent with personal consumption
Highlight the absence of any digital evidence, surveillance, or dealing paraphernalia
Cross-examine police officers on flawed assumptions about cash and packaging

The court ultimately agreed that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the drugs were intended for supply. The magistrate entered a verdict of not guilty.

Steven Mercael on the Case Outcome

“Our client was charged with a very serious drug offence —based entirely on quantity, not conduct,” said Steven Mercael, Principal Solicitor at Criminal Lawyers Group.

“We knew from day one this was a personal use matter, not supply. The challenge was overcoming the presumption that quantity equals intent. Thankfully, the court recognised the weaknesses in the prosecution case and justice prevailed.”

Quantities and Penalties for Supply of Prohibited Drugs (Cocaine) in NSW

Table 1: Prohibited Drug Quantities – Thresholds (Schedule 1 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 NSW)

📘 Under Section 3 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW), prohibited drugs are those listed in Schedule 1. Below are threshold quantities for common substances.

Drug	Small Quantity	Traffickable Quantity	Indictable Quantity	Commercial Quantity	Large Commercial Quantity
Cannabis	30g	300g	1,000g	25kg	100kg
Cocaine	1g	3g	5g	250g	1kg
Ecstasy	0.8g	3g	5g	250g	1kg
Ketamine	2.5g	7.5g	12.5g	1.25kg	5kg
Norcodeine	1g	3g	5g	0.5kg	2kg

Table 2: Penalties for Drug Supply Offences in NSW

Quantity Class	Court Jurisdiction	Maximum Penalty
Small Quantity	Local Court (Summary Offence)	$5,500 fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Traffickable Quantity	Local Court (Summary Offence)	$11,000 fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Indictable Quantity	District Court (Indictable)	$220,000 fine and/or 15 years imprisonment
Commercial Quantity	District Court (Indictable)	$385,000 fine and/or 20 years imprisonment
Large Commercial Quantity	Supreme/District Court (Indictable)	$550,000 fine and/or life imprisonment

See the full legislation:
📘 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW) – Section 25

Why Early Legal Advice is Crucial in Drug Cases

Police often lay supply charges based purely on weight—even where there’s no evidence of actual drug dealing. Without early, strategic representation, individuals risk serious penalties for what may be a personal use case.

Having an experienced defence lawyer like Steven Mercael can make the difference between a conviction and an acquittal.