A Californian man appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday (28 April, 2025) charged with allegedly importing 15kg of cocaine in his black suitcase.
The man, 28, came to police attention on Sunday (27 April, 2025) after he arrived at Melbourne Airport on a flight from San Francisco, United States.
When Australian Border Force (ABF) officers searched his suitcase, they allegedly found 12 vacuum-sealed packages, with a total weight of about 15.3kg. The contents tested positive for cocaine.
The AFP charged the man with:
- One count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
Each offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
AFP Commander Raegan Stewart said the seized cocaine had an estimated street value of $4.8 million and equated to about 750,000 street level deals.
"Criminals are motivated by greed and will use any means to import harmful drugs into Australia to make a profit, at the expense of Australians and their health," Commander Stewart said.
"In 2022-23 there were 985 cocaine-related hospitalisations nationally*, more than two each day on average, which puts pressure on the health system.
"The AFP works closely with law enforcement partners to stop criminals who use airports and planes to bring illicit drugs into Australia."
ABF Acting Superintendent Katrina Vernuccio said that ABF officers remained highly vigilant of criminals' attempts to circumvent border controls within the aviation traveller domain.
"Organised crime will look to any method available to them in order to smuggle illicit drugs and contraband into Australia," a/Supt Vernuccio said.
"These criminal pursuits carry severe penalties and our ABF officers are ready to swiftly intercept and apprehend anyone looking to harm our community through the illegal importation of harmful and highly addictive substances."
*Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
