Australian flying from Gulf caught with 5kg cocaine

A 33-year-old Melbourne man has been remanded in custody after attending Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Saturday for allegedly importing approximately 5kg of cocaine through Melbourne International Airport on April 14, 2017.
The man is due to appear in court again on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, said a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF).
The media release said that, after arriving on a flight from Dubai, Australian ABF officers conducted an examination of the man's baggage.
During the examination, they discovered the man's suitcase allegedly had a false bottom, which when removed revealed three packages wrapped in brown packing tape.
The packages were found to contain a white powder and testing of the substance returned a positive result for cocaine.
The total gross weight of the packages was approximately 5kg - further forensic testing will be conducted to determine the exact weight and purity of the substance.
The man was arrested by the AFP and was charged with the following offences:
· Import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to subsection 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth.)

· Possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to subsection 307.5(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth.).
The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.