Marketing guru Tess Rowlatt accused of running drug-smuggling operation through Airbnb in Melbourne

A glamorous marketing graduate accused of using multiple Airbnb properties to trade commercial amounts of illegal drugs in a “sophisticated” operation will face a jury trial to challenge the charges.

Tess Rowlatt, 32, reportedly switched between 16 Melbourne Airbnb rentals, including the swanky Upper West Side CBD apartments and the View Hotel St Kilda, to cut drug deals.

She faces more than a decade behind bars if convicted of the most serious drug trafficking charge against her.

In a minor victory, prosecutors dropped more than 40 of her more than 100 charges on Monday.

Rowlatt, who appeared in court via video link from Dame Phyllis Frost Center, pleaded not guilty to the rest and paved the way for a jury trial in the County Court of Victoria.

Dressed in white and with glasses on, Rowlatt looked like the glamorous marketing manager in every way, despite being behind bars.

Rowlatt faces a series of charges, including dealing in a commercial amount of drugs and obtaining property through fraud.

She appeared in Melbourne court in December, charged with dealing meth and 1,4-butenediol – also known as liquid fantasy – along with multiple drug deals in ounce bags at Airbnbs between July 23 and October 21 last year.

The court heard that she would stay in the rented apartments for periods ranging from one night to several days.

Rowlatt is also accused of selling meth, GHB and heroin dating back to January 2021.

On her social media, Rowlett states that she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration majoring in marketing from Monash University before taking on sales roles at multiple companies.

At the time, magistrate Jelena Popovic said the alleged crime did not appear to have been carried out to fuel a drug addiction.

“The business approach of the whole enterprise is extremely concerning… This was an enterprise that made absolute money, the likes of which I have rarely seen,” Ms Popovic said, according to The Herald Sun.

Detectives from the drug team attacked Rowlatt’s apartment on the Upper West Side on Oct. 21 after she allegedly struck a deal between her supplier and a buyer.

Chief Constable Scott Davies, a major drug squad detective, told the court that she checked that the buyer had $15,000 and then left the room and came back with drugs.

After her arrest, her bail was denied at a November hearing where police said there was evidence she would act to collect and pay alleged drug debts if they were released.

While she was later released on bail into the care of a rehabilitation clinic, she soon found herself behind bars again, where she remains today.

Detective senior agent Davies also claimed that the Airbnbs were booked with fake IDs and essential work permits and that her digital devices showed evidence of multiple drug deals, including one worth $34,000.

Multiple payment apps were also used as “tick books” to keep track of the racket, he claimed.

Prosecutor Thomas Mills said at the time that he was still adding up the amounts and that the investigation was ongoing, but that there were more than $203,000 in transactions.

In a slap in the face to open justice, court documents setting out the case against Rowlatt were denied by the magistrate.

In January, Rowlatt’s lawyer said his client was mourning the death of her partner as some of the alleged violations took place.

“The trouble with that is that they… [allegedly] involved in sophisticated cheating and high-level trafficking…probably the most sophisticated drug trafficking I’ve encountered,” Ms Popovic replied.

She will appear before the County Court of Victoria next month.