Customs and border protection media release
Cocaine bust inside golf buggy engine - 09 September 2010
Joint media release with Australian Federal Police
A 35-year-old Ballina man will appear at Lismore Court House today charged with the importation of more than three kilograms of cocaine concealed in a golf buggy engine.
In January 2010 Customs and Border Protection Officers at the Sydney Gateway Facility examined an international mail article. They detected the drug and referred the package to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Tests conducted by the AFP revealed the package contained approximately 3.28kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of more than $1.1million.
On 15 January 2010 the AFP executed a search warrant on a Ballina residence. A small amount of cocaine and cannabis were seized as well as $93,500.
The AFP charged the man with the following:
- Importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995,
- Supply of Prohibited Drug (cannabis), contrary to section 25(1) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW),
- Possess Prohibited Drug (cannabis), contrary to section 10(1) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW),
- Possess Prohibited Drug (cocaine), contrary to section 10(1) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW) and
- Dealing with property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.9(1A) of the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act (1995).
The maximum penalty for importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug is life imprisonment and /or an $825,000 fine.
The AFP and Customs and Border Protection will continue to monitor Australia’s borders to detect and prevent the entry of illicit drugs into Australia.
Media enquiries:
AFP National Media (02) 6131 6333
Customs and Border Protection Media (02) 6275 6793