Cocaine found in bottles of alcohol

This is a joint AFP and Customs media release

A 35-year-old West Australian man will face Sydney's Central Local Court today after allegedly attempting to smuggle into Australia cocaine concealed inside bottles of alcohol.

Customs officers at Sydney International Airport stopped the man for a baggage examination when he arrived on a flight from Tahiti on Saturday (10 May).

During the search officers became suspicious of the contents of a bottle of Irish cream and a bottle of fruit cream.

Officers noted anomalies in both one -litre bottles and conducted a trace particle detection test which indicated the possible presence of cocaine.

A Customs detector dog also reacted positively to the two bottles.

The man was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the contents of the bottles were forensically examined.

Preliminary testing of the substance indicated the presence of cocaine.

The exact weight and purity of the drugs involved are to be determined by further forensic testing.

The man was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment.