A South Australian man is expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today (14 January, 2025), charged with several offences including the trafficking of illicit substances, false identification, dealing in proceeds of crime and possession of prohibited weapons.
Adelaide Airport staff alerted AFP officers to the man, 39, yesterday (13 January, 2025) after allegedly identifying illicit items in the man's luggage during screening, which was undertaken before the man intended to board a domestic flight.
AFP officers conducted a search of the man's baggage and allegedly identified about 10g of an illicit white powder believed to be methamphetamine, knuckle dusters, five mobile devices, $1300 in cash and various identification documents in other people's names.
Two containers containing clear fluid was also allegedly located in another of the man's bags, with presumptive testing by Australian Border Force (ABF) identifying the liquid to be Butanediol.
The man was arrested and charged with:
- Once count of false identification information at constitutional airports, contrary to section 376.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of possessing a prohibited weapon, contrary to section 21F of the Summary Offences Act 1953, in its application under contrary to section 4 of the Commonwealth Places (Application Of Laws) Act 1970 (Cth);
- One count of dealing in proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.7(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
- One count of trafficking a marketable quantity of a controlled drug, contrary to section 302.3(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of unlawful possession, contrary to section 41(1) of the Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA) in its application under section 4 of the Commonwealth Places (Application Of Laws) Act 1970 (Cth).
AFP Inspector Dan Finley said the AFP worked closely with aviation industry and other partners to prevent illegal activity through airports.
"The diligence of airport staff and AFP officers enabled a quick response to the incident to ensure the safety of the travelling public and to stop these illicit and dangerous items from boarding an aircraft or entering the community," Insp. Finley said.
"Criminals will go to any length to traffic or import harmful drugs at the expense of the community.
"All drugs are dangerous and significantly impact the community with devastating consequences, which is why the AFP and its law enforcement partners are committed to stopping these criminal activities."
