A US national is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today (17 January 2025), charged with allegedly importing cocaine in shampoo and conditioner bottles.
On 26 December 2024, Australian Border Force officers at Brisbane Airport selected the man, 33, for a search after drug detection dogs alerted them to the possible presence of illicit substances in his luggage.
The man had travelled to Brisbane on a flight from the United States.
When ABF officers examined his luggage, they noticed two 946ml bottles, one containing shampoo and the other conditioner, and performed a presumptive drug test on each.
The AFP was called after the preliminary drug tests returned a positive result for cocaine.
The combined weight of the cocaine was 2.2kg, which could have been sold as 11,000 street deals, with a total estimated street value of $880,000.
The man was interviewed by police and charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
The AFP opposed bail at a hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 27 December 2024, and the court remanded the man in custody to re-appear today.
AFP Superintendent Natalie Scott said transnational organised crime syndicates viewed Australia as a lucrative drug market and tried a variety of methods to smuggle illicit substances into the country.
“While these syndicates try to prey on our communities to make money, the AFP, ABF and partners are committed to stopping illicit drugs from entering Australia and inflicting harm in our communities,” Scott said.
ABF Superintendent John Ikin said his officers’ strong management of the Australian border would continue to frustrate organised crime networks in their efforts to infiltrate the country.
“Trafficking drugs and other illicit commodities destroys lives, damages communities and fuels violence,” Ikin said. “Criminals should be warned; there is no clever way to import drugs. You will be caught. ABF officers use every means at their disposal, including highly trained dogs, advanced technology and intelligence shared by partner agencies nationally and globally, to detect and deter the scourge of illicit drugs at our border.”
