National media release
Canadian man concealing drugs faces court
Monday, 23 June 2008
This is a Joint Australian Federal Police and Customs Media Release
A 45-year-old Canadian man will face Sydney Central Local Court today charged with attempting to import more than 150 grams of cocaine into Australia.
Customs officers at Sydney International Airport stopped the man after he arrived on a flight from Dubai on Saturday morning, 21 June 2008.
During questioning, Customs officers became suspicious he may have been concealing drugs internally and he was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The man accompanied AFP officers to St George Hospital for a scan which revealed he was internally concealing a number of foreign objects.
It will be alleged in court the man was concealing 58 packages of a border controlled drug.
The packages are currently the subject of forensic testing to determine the exact weight and purity of the drugs.
The AFP charged the man with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to Section 307.2 (1) of the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995.
The maximum penalty for this offence is $550,000 and/or 25 years imprisonment.
Media enquiries:
AFP Media (Canberra): (02) 6275 7100