National media release
Clothing allegedly impregnated with cocaine
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
A 29-year-old German man will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today following an alleged attempt to import cocaine impregnated in clothing into Australia.
Customs officers stopped the man when he arrived at Brisbane International Airport on a flight from New Zealand yesterday.
During a search of his bags, officers became suspicious that drugs may have been impregnated in the fabric of several items of clothing, including numerous pairs of jeans and t-shirts.
Preliminary testing of fabric of several items of clothing, which were stiff to the touch, indicated the presence of cocaine.
The man was subsequently arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and charged with attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug under the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The clothing will be sent for forensic testing to determine the quantity of drugs allegedly impregnated within the fabric.
The maximum penalty for this offence is a fine of $550,000 and/or 25 years imprisonment.
Media enquiries:
AFP Media (Canberra): (02) 6275 7100