Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Sydney Airport have detected half a kilogram of the psychoactive ‘Peyote’ cactus in a 64-year-old man’s luggage.
The US national arrived on a flight from Los Angeles last month and was targeted by ABF officers due to information received through a Border Watch referral.
During an examination of the man’s bags, 500 grams of a substance believed to be Peyote was discovered in his check-in luggage.
A peyote is a small, spineless cactus that contains the psychoactive alkaloid mescaline. It is classified as a narcotic.
The substance was tested and returned positive results for mescaline.
The detection was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Aviation Traveller Superintendent Phillip Anderson said it was an important detection that highlighted the role the community can play in protecting Australia’s border.
“Our airport officers work incredibly hard every day to protect Australia’s community from dangerous illicit substances such as these,” Superintendent Anderson said.
“The information that led to this detection came from a member of the public who reported the suspected criminal activity through Border Watch. I would encourage anyone in the community with any information relating to the importation of narcotics to visit www.australia.gov.au/borderwatch.”
The AFP ascertained that the Peyote cactus was purchased legally in the United States and was purchased by the man due to his native American ceremonial requirements.
The man was informed that the substance is a border controlled drug and was cautioned in regards to possible importation offences. The prohibited substance was seized for destruction.
