A 30-year-old Colombian national is due to face court today charged with possessing two kilograms of cocaine and attempting to import a commercial quantity of cocaine into Australia after an investigation by the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF).
On 2 July 2021, officers from the Australian Border Force (ABF) conducted an examination of a consignment which tested positive for cocaine hidden within packets of coffee.
Following the detection officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Queensland Police Service conducted a search warrant at a unit in Bowen Hills on 3 July 2021.
The search uncovered a key to a storage unit at the address where, police will allege, two kilograms of cocaine were found in a backpack.
The 30-year-old Bowen Hills man is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today (16 July 2021), charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and possessing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug.
If found guilty, these offences carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Ben Moses, Northern Command said the AFP was committed to preventing illegal drugs from hitting the streets and harming Australians.
"Any amount of cocaine in our community is too much, the impact this would have had on users, their families and the wider community cannot be understated," Detective Acting Superintendent Moses said.
ABF Acting Regional Commander for Queensland, Joanne Churchill, said officers were committed to preventing the illegal import of narcotics into the Australian community.
"Today's court hearing highlights the very real consequences for those attempting to endanger the community by importing illegal substances. It also shows once again what can be achieved when we work closely with our law enforcement counterparts," Acting Regional Commander Churchill said.
The Queensland JOCTF comprises of members from the Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police Service (QPS), Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), AUSTRAC and Department of Home Affairs.
