This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force.

Editor’s note: Images available via Hightail here

A 57-year-old Korean man appeared at Central Local Court on 10 October 2022 after he was arrested at Sydney Airport on Saturday (8 October 2022) for allegedly importing 2.5kg of cocaine.  Bail was not applied for and was formally refused. 

The man arrived on a flight from Tokyo and his luggage was the subject of an examination by the Australian Border Force (ABF). The ABF search allegedly found a white powdery substance in the man’s backpack and books.  

Testing of the powder returned a positive presumptive result for cocaine - approximately 2.5 kilograms of cocaine was identified. 

AFP members arrested the man and charged him with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to section 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). 

The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment. 

AFP Sergeant Luke Stockwell said illicit drugs are destructive to our community and the AFP and partners will continue to work together at airports across the country. 

"The community’s safety continues to be a top priority," Sergeant Stockwell said.   

“The message should be clear to anyone attempting to bring illicit drugs into Australia regardless of the quantity – you will be caught and you will face the full force of the law.” 

ABF Superintendent Phillip Anderson praised both the dedication of ABF officers for detecting the cocaine at the border, and the ongoing close collaboration with the AFP.

“We are pleased to see this matter result in a charge. Together with our AFP counterparts, the ABF is committed to detecting and deterring illegal import attempts and protecting the Australian community from the scourge of illegal drugs,” Superintendent Anderson said.

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