Passenger arrested in cocaine suitcase bust at Perth Airport

During the examination, ABF officers allegedly found two foil-wrapped packages containing a white substance inside the lining of the man’s suitcase. Presumptive testing returned a positive result for cocaine, with an estimated total weight of 4.1kg.

The ABF alerted the AFP, and AFP officers arrested the man and seized the illicit drugs. The man was charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of cocaine, contrary to section 307.1 (1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment, and he was scheduled to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on 10 October.

AFP Acting Commander Murray Taylor said the AFP remained committed to working closely with the ABF to identify people who attempted to bring illicit drugs into the country through airports.

“The work of law enforcement agencies at Australia’s airports is critical to protecting people from drug traffickers who are driven by greed and profiting at the expense of our community’s most vulnerable,” Acting Commander Taylor said.

“Illicit drugs cause untold pain and suffering to many Australians.”

ABF Superintendent John Eldridge said ABF officers were the first line of defence at the border and were highly trained and alert to observing suspicious passenger behaviour at airports.

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“It is a combination of training, intelligence and just good old-fashioned intuition that can inform what we look for when a passenger is selected for a baggage search,” Superintendent Eldridge said.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to detect and prevent harmful drugs from entering Australia through international airports as traffickers continue to try their luck.

For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services, call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.