SYDNEY, Oct 12 : Australian authorities have arrested and charged two New Zealand nationals over an alleged attempt to import 40 kg of cocaine concealed in luggage.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) said on Sunday that the two men, both aged 21, were selected for baggage examination following their arrival in Australia at Sydney Airport on Friday.
During the search, ABF officers found 20 kg of a white substance in each of the men’s suitcases. Initial testing of the substance returned a positive result for cocaine.
The two men were arrested by the AFP and each charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and one count of possessing commercial quantities of unlawfully imported border-controlled drugs.
Both offenses carry maximum penalties of life imprisonment.
The AFP and ABF said that the amount of cocaine has an estimated street value of 13 million Australian dollars (8.4 million U.S. dollars) and had the potential to supply 130,000 street-level deals.
(UNI)
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