Airline employee charged with importing a commercial quantity of drugs into Sydney

This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force 

Editor's note: Images of the seized items are available via Hightail

The AFP has arrested and charged an airline employee with allegedly importing 4.1 litres of gamma butyrolactone (GBL) in shampoo bottles into Australia.

The man, 29, of Newtown, was performing work duties on board an international flight when he arrived at Sydney Airport on Saturday, 7 December, 2024, from South Africa.

Australian Border Force (ABF) officers conducted a baggage examination and located three shampoo bottles and a water bottle in a clip seal bag, wrapped in items of clothing.

Initial testing of the liquid contents allegedly returned a positive reading for GBL.

ABF officers reported the matter to the AFP, who seized the bottles and arrested the man. He was later charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, namely gamma butyrolactone, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The man appeared at Downing Centre Local Court yesterday (9 December, 2024) where he was remanded in custody to return to the same court on 4 February, 2025.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Dom Stephenson said the AFP would continue to be relentless in its pursuit of anyone who used their work or community position to enable drug trafficking or other criminal activities.

"The AFP is committed and focused on identifying and disrupting those who attempt to import harmful illicit substances into our country," Det a/Supt Stephenson said.

"We will allege the man charged abused his trusted position as an airline employee and sought to use that access to smuggle a commercial quantity of drugs into Australia.

"The AFP and its partners work closely to protect the Australian community from the scourge of illicit drugs."  

ABF Superintendent Elke West said ABF officers were consistently working with partner agencies to monitor relevant information to be able to act promptly to potential threats.

"Domestic and international collaboration is key to stamp out the threat of trusted insiders, with criminal syndicates attempting to exploit and recruit individuals to advance their illicit drug trafficking ventures," Supt West said.

"Our ABF officers use several detection capabilities to identify passengers and crew who may be attempting to thwart our border controls.

"With the evolving threat of trusted insiders, border agencies will continue to try and target any vulnerability within the supply chain."