Skateboards conceal cocaine haul

A 33-year-old Victorian man has appeared in Sydney Central Local Court today charged with importing approximately 600 grams of cocaine into Australia, concealed within two skateboard decks.

The man was stopped at Sydney Airport for questioning by Customs officers last night, after arriving on a flight from Auckland, New Zealand.

During a search of the man’s baggage, Customs officers became suspicious that drugs may have been concealed inside two skateboard decks.

An x-ray of the skateboard decks revealed an image consistent with a possible drug concealment.

The two skateboard decks were partially deconstructed, allegedly revealing three packages containing a white powder.

Preliminary testing indicated the presence of cocaine.

The man was arrested by the Australian Federal Police and charged with attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995.

The white powder will undergo forensic testing to confirm the substance and determine its purity and weight.

The man was remanded in custody to reappear in Sydney Central Local Court on 15 January 2009.

The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.