An X-ray of a suitcase seized at Sydney Airport. Pictures: AFP
Two foreign nationals have been refused bail after almost 50kg of cocaine and meth worth nearly $29 million were seized at Sydney Airport within the last two weeks.
According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the two unrelated drug shipments were seized at the airport within 48 hours.
A Canadian-Ecuadorian dual national, 41, was charged with importing six kilograms of cocaine in his underpants on September 21.
Two days later (on Monday, 23 September), AFP officers charged a US national, 23, with importing 21kg of cocaine and 21kg of methamphetamine in two large suitcases.
The 41-year-old man appeared in Downing Centre Local Court on September 22 and was refused bail. He will return to court on November 21.
The 23-year-old man appeared in Downing Centre court on September 24 and was refused bail. He will return to court on November 27.
The seizure was part of an AFP-Australian Border Force (ABF) operation.
AFP Acting Sydney Airport Police Commander Dom Stephenson says that illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine inflicts misery.
“Despite all the risks involved, we are still arresting people attempting to bring illicit drugs into our country through our airports,” Detective Acting-Supt Stephenson said.
“When individuals travel to Australia with drugs hidden in their possession, it should come as no surprise they will be detected and face the full consequences of the law.
ABF Acting Superintendent Andrew Snook said these detections showed that drug-smuggling travellers did not understand the consequences of their acts.
“Criminal syndicates are exploiting young travellers who may not understand the risks of importing border-controlled drugs into Australia, all for their own financial gain,” A/Supt Snook said.
“ABF officers utilise a combination of intelligence, observation, and intuition when it comes to identifying passengers who may be attempting to smuggle drugs into the country.
“The quantities alleged to have been stopped at Sydney Airport would have resulted in millions of street deals flooded into the illicit drug market and put thousands of lives at risk,” he said.
“We as border protection and law enforcement agencies must do all we can to disrupt the distribution and importation of these harmful substances into our community.”
