Man arrested after an unbelievable find in his luggage at a major Aussie airport
- Gold Coast grandfather facing life in prison
- Street value of bust worth $11million
- READ MORE: Cops bust alleged plot to bring in 300kg of drugs from overseas
A Gold Coast grandfather has been arrested after allegedly trying to smuggle a staggering 35 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia, hidden inside his suitcases.
The 62-year-old was stopped by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Brisbane Airport on Friday after stepping off a flight from Los Angeles.
During a meticulous baggage inspection, officers allegedly uncovered 12 vacuum-sealed plastic bags stuffed with a white crystalline substance concealed deep within his luggage.
Initial testing returned a positive result for methamphetamine, with authorities estimating the total haul could have been broken down into 17,500 street-level deals, worth a whopping $11.4 million.
The man was immediately arrested by Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers and charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Shane Scott said the bust was yet another example of the relentless work being done to stop dangerous drugs from flooding Australian streets.
'Our borders at airports are patrolled actively and diligently by the AFP and ABF to target illegal drugs coming into the country,' Mr Scott said.
Police seized the 12 vacuum-sealed bags which contained methamphetamine (pictured)
Mr Scott added the seizure had stopped millions of dollars from flowing into the pockets of organised crime syndicates.
'The AFP and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our mission to protect Australians from illicit drugs,' Mr Scott said.
ABF Commander Operations Queensland Troy Sokoloff said the arrest was the result of targeted intelligence work and the vigilance of frontline officers.
'Methamphetamine destroys lives and families, and this seizure sends a strong message to those who attempt to smuggle drugs into Australia, you will be caught,' Mr Sokoloff said.
Authorities said criminal syndicates continue to exploit international travel routes in a bid to move large quantities of illicit substances into the country.
But they insist that a combination of intelligence sharing, targeted inspections, and routine screening means Australia's borders remain a formidable barrier.
The accused remains in custody and is expected to face Brisbane Arrest Court later today.
The bust comes amid a string of major drug seizures at Australian airports.
Multiple bags containing the methamphetamine were split up across his luggage (pictured)
The major drug bust saw Police seize drugs with a street value of $11million (pictured)
Just last year, Sydney Airport officers intercepted almost 50 kilograms of illicit drugs in just 48 hours.
The illicit drugs included 27kg of cocaine and 21kg of methamphetamine, in two separate incidents involving passengers arriving from overseas.
In June, seven men were charged with plotting to bring more than 300kg of illicit drugs into Australia.
