A woman has avoided being taken into custody after admitting to her role in the supply of almost half a kilogram of cocaine.
Strike force police were monitoring the car Jazmine Stoimenoff was driving as she travelled from Sydney to Newcastle after a drug pick-up on August 12 last year.
Court documents indicate she was with her girlfriend Kahri Anderson, who police allege was the main driver of a drug operation in the Hunter, when police intercepted them at a service station at Wyong.
Police found $2325 cash in her pocket, some of which she claimed was from "playing the pokies" and another $4000, which she told them was from a car sale.
Officers searched the car and uncovered a grey tub on the back seat with a brown paper bag inside containing 494.7 grams of cocaine.
Stoimenoff pleaded guilty in Newcastle Local Court last week to taking part in the supply of a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. She will be sentenced on other charges as well, while a number of charges were withdrawn.
Prosecutors alleged the 24-year-old had used her partner's Mazda CX5 at times to help with packaging, selling and receiving payments from drugs, while her licence was suspended.
Police had launched Strike Force Carrolup in July 2025 to investigate Anderson and were monitoring her.
Police allege she had an industrial unit at Mayfield West that she used for her carwashing business and illegal drug dealing.
The document detailing Stoimenoff's involvement showed she had been involved in two sales of 0.6 grams of cocaine, once to a man in the car park of a Gateshead pub in July and once to a woman in August.
Stoimenoff was on bail and prosecutors made an unsuccessful bid to have her taken back behind bars after she pleaded guilty, saying the amount of drugs found in the car was almost double the commercial quantity.
Stoimenoff's defence solicitor said the 24-year-old knew the amount of cocaine was above the commercial amount but did not know the exact weight.
"She's low in the hierarchy ... her knowledge is capped at the absolutely minimum threshold," he said.
He said she had family support, was working on her rehabilitation, and helping with renovations.
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Judge Travor Khan warned that just because she escaped custody this time, it did not guarantee she would avoid jail when she faces sentencing in the Newcastle District Court. He said "she ain't a mere bystander" as she was found in a car where almost 500 grams of an illicit substance was found.
But he accepted there was a reasonable prospect of a community-based prison term, with her limited criminal history and young age.
Anderson, 24, remains before the court and has not been required to enter pleas to the charges against her.
