LARGE PRE-CHRISTMAS COCAINE SEIZURE AT SYDNEY AIRPORT
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
An illicit drug operation undertaken by a transnational criminal syndicate has been foiled at Sydney International Airport by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers who intercepted approximately 37 kilograms of cocaine in the luggage of five passengers.
ABF officers intercepted the group of four Canadian nationals and one US citizen, who arrived on a flight from Los Angeles on Tuesday (22 December, 2015).
It is alleged a search of their luggage revealed a total of 81 tightly sealed packages containing a white powdery substance that was tested and returned a presumptive positive result for cocaine.
The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for further investigation, and the five passengers were later charged with attempt to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The five passengers appeared in Parramatta Local Court yesterday (23 December 2015), and the matter is re-listed for a bail application on January 6, 2016 at Sydney Central Local Court.
Australian Border Force Regional Commander Tim Fitzgerald said the significant seizure was located in the lining of eight checked in bags belonging to the passengers.
"This seizure highlights the effectiveness of our ABF airport officers in detecting and disrupting organised criminal gangs using drug couriers to attempt to import these dangerous illegal drugs through our international airports," said Commander Fitzgerald.
"This illicit drug detection involving five passengers is even more outstanding in the pre-Christmas peak period when approximately 49,500 passengers were processed on this day at Sydney Airport."
AFP Airport Police Commander Sharon Cowden said the five passengers could face up to life imprisonment for this attempted import.
"This is a clear warning to people intending to take advantage of the busy holiday travel period that the AFP and the ABF will continue to work with our partners to stop the importation of drugs through our airports," Commander Cowden said.
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