A sentencing judge's characterisation of an offender's level of participation in drug offending must be supported by the evidence and proved beyond reasonable doubt where challenged. Describing an offender as a 'high-level operative' or 'high-level distributor' requires evidence of involvement in planning, organisation or orchestration of the offence, not merely facilitation of a delivery mechanism. A person who provides a post box for drug deliveries and collects packages for handover, without involvement in planning, sourcing, or ultimate distribution, is not properly characterised as a high-level operative.
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