Vanessa Lee White refused bail over alleged drug importation

Police on Friday revealed the Australian Border Force had last month intercepted a parcel that was allegedly destined for Hughes woman Vanessa Lee White, 48.

Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said forensic investigators "deconstructed" it and found it contained more than 1kg of a chemical known as GBL, which is a common precursor to the "date rape" drug GHB.

He said the drugs were replaced with an inert substance before the package was delivered to the woman's home on Thursday.

Ms White was subsequently arrested and charged with importing and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, as well as failing to comply with a law enforcement order.

She faces a maximum potential sentence of life in jail.

Ms White was visibly upset and sniffed repeatedly when she appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court via audio-visual link from a remote room on Friday.

Commonwealth prosecutor Zoe Hough urged Magistrate Glenn Theakston to refuse bail, arguing there was "a significant likelihood" Ms White would interfere with evidence if released.

Ms Hough told the court police wanted to remain "circumspect" about the details, but there were "plans for further search warrants in the next week".

She described the prosecution case as "very strong", saying Ms White had "received the relevant consignment".

Mr Theakston remarked at this point that material before the court also suggested there were "text messages consistent with [Ms White's] awareness of its nature".

Ms Hough agreed, saying intercepted communications indicated Ms White had used the dark web to facilitate her alleged offending.

This prompted a brief outburst from Ms White, who exclaimed: "I didn't write any of [the messages]!"

Ms Hough said there were no bail conditions that could ameliorate the risks posed by the 48-year-old, arguing Ms White had proven she would defy lawful orders by refusing to give police the passcodes for her devices.

But Legal Aid duty lawyer Elizabeth West claimed Ms White had not understood the terms of the relevant order and was now willing to provide access to the electronics.

Addressing concerns about interference with evidence, Ms West said Ms White's devices had already been seized and would "likely remain in the possession of the Commonwealth for some time".

She also said while there was talk of further search warrants, "no definite targets" had been disclosed and "there's really nothing to suggest where the investigation is going".

Ms West indicated the package in question had been "found at the back of a cupboard", which did not suggest Ms White was a sophisticated criminal.

She said Ms White was a single mother with three children to care for, which would create obvious difficulties if the 48-year-old was remanded in custody.

Mr Theakston ultimately refused bail, saying he did so "reluctantly" given the situation with the children.

But the magistrate said he believed there was "a real risk that the defendant may interfere" with the ongoing investigation and the charges were "very serious".

Ms White, who did not enter pleas, is due in court again on July 29.

On Friday afternoon, Detective Superintendent Moller said the ongoing police investigation related to "possibly both" further consignments and the involvement of other Canberra-based offenders.

He told reporters the seized GBL was "worth a significant amount".

"This importation and its subsequent possible distribution could have had a significant impact on our community given that police usually see this drug used in date rapes ... and predominantly on unsuspecting victims," he said.

Detective Superintendent Moller said GBL was a "very potent" substance, and the intercepted amount equated to "hundreds of deals".

"The other thing with GBL is that it's predominantly mixed with alcohol," he said.

"Like I said, it's used in date rape scenarios, but getting the combination right is extremely important.

"If you get it wrong, just by the smallest amount, it can have lethal consequences."

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