Ex-NRLW player admits supplying cocaine
A former NRLW player who admitted to supplying cocaine and ketamine in Sydney’s CBD remains stranded in Fiji after her visa to return to Australia was refused.
Aliti Namoce, 26, was due to be sentenced in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Monday having pleaded guilty to two counts each of possessing a prohibited drug and supplying a prohibited drug.
She also pleaded guilty to a single charge of dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Earlier this year Namoce was granted a variation to her bail conditions so she could travel to her native country to compete for Fiji in the Women’s Pacific Championship, but was then refused entry back into Australia.
It prevented her from appearing in court as guilty pleas were entered on her behalf late last month.
She was due to appear before the court on Monday to be sentenced, but court heard she remained overseas and her passport had been taken from her.
It was anticipated that the issue would be resolved in the next few weeks and she was hoping for her visa to be fast-tracked, the court was told.
Magistrate Scott Nash issued a warrant so Namoce could be brought before the courts when she arrives back in Australia.
Agreed police facts tendered to the court reveal police were on patrol in Zetland to “disrupt drug supply” activities when they spotted a man get into Namoce’s car before exiting metres down the road.
When she was stopped by police a short time later, officers said they observed her “delaying rolling down her window … (and) was actively attempting to delete messages and close applications on her phone”.
Police immediately seized the phone and after a search of her car uncovered two plastic bags containing smaller packets of cocaine and ketamine.
More than $1000 in cash, which police allege was the proceeds of crime, and a pocket knife were also found, with Namoce telling officers she had driven from her home in Lalor Park because she was “going for a drive”.
A review of the navigation application on her phone revealed she had visited multiple addresses in inner Sydney, including properties in Zetland, Gladesville, Balmain, Paddington and Glebe.
Namoce has previously played for the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra NRLW teams and she played seven games for the Parramatta Eels reserve grade side in 2024.
She played for the Fijian women’s Test side against the Cook Islands in Suva on October 26 but she was omitted from the side to take on Samoa the following week.
Namoce will return to court at a later date.
