Two arrested for alleged cocaine import

This is a joint AFP and Customs media release.

A 28-year-old New Zealand man and a 22-year-old Australian man will face Parramatta Local Court today, after allegedly importing more than 500 grams of cocaine into Australia.

Customs officers at Sydney Airport stopped the two passengers for a baggage search, after they arrived from Los Angeles early on Wednesday morning (10 September).

Officers became suspicious that the men were concealing drugs internally.

The men were referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and taken to hospital for a medical examination.

It will be alleged in court that the New Zealand man passed 10 packages containing approximately 90 grams of powder believed to be cocaine and the Australian man passed 49 packages containing approximately 450 grams of powder also believed to be cocaine.

The powder will undergo forensic testing to determine the exact weight and purity of the drugs.

The two men have each been charged with the importation of a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug, cocaine, contrary to the Criminal Code Act 1995.

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