Dark web fentanyl dealer: Douglas William Barrett jailed

Douglas William Barrett imported 9g of fentanyl, partly to satisfy his own addiction developed through severe and chronic back pain and partly to sell to offset the cost of his own use.

He pleaded guilty in the District Court to two counts of importing a border-controlled drug and was jailed on Tuesday for three years and nine months with a non-parole period of two years.

But both terms were backdated to October 2017, when the 33-year-old was taken into custody, meaning he could be released from prison later this year.

Judge Liesl Chapman said if Barrett had sold all the fentanyl he imported he would have made up to $120,000.

While he did sell some of the drugs for a few thousand dollars, she accepted that he was more motivated by the need to cover the cost of his own use as he topped up prescriptions he was already receiving.

He was also supplying fentanyl to his wife for recreational use.

Judge Chapman said while Barrett had dealt with his own addiction and was confident he would not return to prison, general deterrence had to be given significant weight in sentencing.

“The importation of illicit drugs has serious implications for the community,” she said.

“Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which is used for legitimate medical purposes for pain relief.

“It is 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It can also be abused and used for recreational purposes.

“It certainly has much dangerous potential.”

However, Judge Chapman said Barrett’s conduct could be distinguished from others who imported illegal drugs with the sole intention of making a significant amount of money.