Malaysian charged with possession of 5kg meth at Sydney airport

 The suspect told officers he had been recruited through social media to courier the suitcase from Thailand to Australia in exchange for payment.

The Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force said in a joint statement that the 66-year-old man was sent for a baggage examination upon arrival in Sydney. (Australian National Audit Office pic)

SYDNEY:

 Australian police have charged a Malaysian man over an alleged attempt to import methamphetamine found concealed in luggage at Sydney airport, reported Xinhua.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a joint statement today that the 66-year-old man was sent for a baggage examination upon arrival in Sydney on a flight from Thailand on Thursday.

An X-ray of the man’s suitcase identified anomalies and a subsequent search located 10 bottles, which were labelled as scented powder, containing 5kg of methamphetamine.

The man was arrested and charged with one count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The AFP and ABF said the man told officers he had been recruited through social media to courier the suitcase from Thailand to Australia in exchange for payment.

Two mobile phones were seized by investigators for forensic examination. - FMT