US national charged- allegedly importing 2.2kg cocaine hidden in haircare products Borderforce AFP-Video
A US national is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today (17 January 2025) charged with allegedly importing cocaine in shampoo and conditioner bottles.
On 26 December 2024, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Brisbane Airport selected the man, 33, for a search after drug detection dogs alerted them to the possible presence of illicit substances in his luggage.
The man had travelled to Brisbane on a flight from the United States.
When ABF officers examined his luggage, they noticed two 946ml bottles, one containing shampoo and the other conditioner, and performed a presumptive drug test on each.
The AFP was called after the preliminary drug tests returned a positive result for cocaine.
The combined weight of the cocaine was 2.2kg, which could have been sold as 11,000 street deals, with a total estimated street value of $880,000.
The man was interviewed by police and charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
