A 47 year old man from Cyprus was arrested at Sydney International Airport after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers allegedly found four kilograms of ice worth $3.5 million smuggled in his luggage, the Daily Mail has reported.
It said the man arrived in Sydney on a flight from Doha, Qatar. ABF officers x-rayed the man’s luggage and allegedly noted some inconsistencies.
Officers conducted a further inspection of the suitcase and allegedly found a ‘crystalline substance’ hidden in the lining.
‘The substance was subsequently tested and gave positive indication for ice,’ a ABF statement said.
CCTV has been publicly released of ABF officers inspecting the man’s luggage before he is led away in handcuffs by Australian Federal Police officers.
The man was charged with importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine.
The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.
The man appeared in Central Local Court on Monday, where he was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on December 5.
Acting ABF Regional Commander NSW Tony McSweeney, commended the good work of officers who stopped the illicit drug from hitting Sydney’s streets.
‘We know the significant damage ice is having on communities around the country, and our officers at the border are committed to stopping drugs like this reaching our kids and destroying families and communities,’ he said.
AFP’s Acting Sydney Airport Commander Simone O’Mahony added: ‘We know better than most the importance of keeping these dangerous drugs off our streets and out of our homes.
