A sentence of 15 years imprisonment with a 9-year non-parole period is at the top of the range but not manifestly excessive for possession of more than 12 times the commercial quantity of Ecstasy by a middle man in a drug importation syndicate. The utilitarian discount for a guilty plea is a discretionary exercise distinct from the assessment of contrition based on the strength of the Crown case. Prior good character in the form of absence of prior convictions carries less weight in drug importation cases, particularly for foreign nationals who entered Australia to commit offences.
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