SYDNEY (Bernama) – Australian police ‘iced’ an alleged attempt to smuggle cocaine into the country wih the arrest of two Icelandic men to facilitate investigations into an international drug smuggling operation.
Come Wednesday, an Icelandic man is set to appear in court after a joint investigation involving the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Border Force (ABF) uncovered the illicit operation.
According to Xinhua news agency, the authorities made the bust on the 30-year-old after another man, aged 25, also from Iceland, was arrested on Monday at the Melbourne International Airport and was found to be carrying about four kilogrammes of the illicit drug cocaine in his luggage.
When examining the passenger’s bag on arrival, AFP officers noticed inconsistencies in the man’s suitcase. Upon closer inspection, they found the “substance secreted in the lining of the suitcase,” which then “gave positive indication of the cocaine.”
According to ABF Assistant Commissioner, Port Operations Command, Claire Rees, the detection highlights the skill of authorities when it come to identifying travellers of concern at busy airports.
“Our officers process millions of air travellers each year and it speaks volumes of their expertise and professional judgement that they have been able to identify this individual and a significant amount of dangerous drugs,” she said.
“Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to detecting anyone arriving in Australia with intent to carry out criminal activity and prevent harmful drugs from reaching Australian communities.”
Further investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at a Melbourne hotel, where the 30-year-old was found in possession of another 2.7kg of cocaine.
Both men face charges of importing and possession of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. The maximum penalty for such a crime in Australia is life imprisonment.
– BERNAMA
