A Singaporean national has been charged with allegedly importing 32kg of methamphetamine and 8kg of cocaine into Australia on an international flight, hidden inside his luggage.
The man, 55, is expected to appear at Downing Centre Local Court today (25 February, 2025) after he was extradited from South Australia.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers stopped the man when he arrived in Sydney on a flight from Malaysia on 20 February, 2025. The man allegedly claimed he was not travelling with any checked luggage and was initially cleared to depart Sydney Airport.
ABF officers subsequently found two suitcases abandoned on a luggage carousel, which allegedly had identification tags on them in the man's name. The suitcases contained about 32kg of methamphetamine and 8kg of cocaine. The ABF referred the matter to the AFP, who seized the luggage and began the search for the passenger.
Further investigations revealed he had travelled from Sydney to Adelaide. AFP officers arrested him at Adelaide Airport on 21 February, 2025 where he was attempting to board a flight to Malaysia.
The man initially appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on 24 February, 2025, and was subsequently extradited to NSW. He has been charged with:
Import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to subsection 307.1 (1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
Import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to subsection 307.1 (1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
This offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The seized methamphetamine has an estimated street value of $29.6 million and could have been sold as about 320,000 street deals. The seized cocaine has an estimated street value of $2.6 million and could have been sold as about 40,000 street deals.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Stuart Millen said the AFP worked closely with the ABF and other state and international law enforcement partners to stop criminals exploiting air travel channels as part of the drug trafficking supply chain.
"Illicit drugs destroy lives and remain a scourge for the wider community," Det a/Supt Millen said.
"The AFP and its partners are working tirelessly to disrupt all levels and all avenues in the drug trade and will stop anyone who tries to profit at the expense of our community."
ABF Superintendent Elke West said this was yet another significant detection of illicit drugs made by ABF officers at Sydney Airport.
"Our officers continue to strike the right balance between facilitating the millions of legitimate travellers that come through Sydney Airport each year, while being alert to criminal syndicates attempting to use airports as a gateway to illicit drug importation," Supt West said.
"Our message is clear, we will uncover these attempts at every opportunity and will work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure those responsible face the full force of the law."
