Austrian man jailed for importing meth in suitcase

A 30-year-old Austrian man has been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for importing 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine concealing within the lining of a suitcase. The estimated street value of this importation is $1.3 million, and it could have resulted in more than 18,000 individual deals.

The man arrived into Sydney International Airport on a flight from Qatar in February 2019.

Australian Border Force (ABF) officers detected anomalies upon a routine examination of the medium-sized suitcase the man brought with him. ABF officers located a substance within the lining of the suitcase, which tested positive to methamphetamine.

The detection was reported to Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers, who subsequently arrested the 30-year-old Austrian man.

He was charged with one count of importing of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

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