(LAWFUEL) – Two 19-year-old United States nationals have been charged with allegedly importing 200 grams of cocaine into Australia.
Customs officers at Sydney International Airport stopped the men for questioning after they had arrived on a flight from Los Angeles yesterday.
During a search of one of the men, Customs officers allegedly discovered two packages concealed within his clothing.
Preliminary testing of powder contained in the packages indicated that it was cocaine.
Two similar packages were allegedly recovered from the second man.
The men were referred to the Australian Federal Police.
Each of the men is alleged to have been carrying approximately 100 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of $70,000. Further testing will determine the exact weight and purity of the drugs.
The men were charged with importing marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug (cocaine) contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act (1995).
One of the men appeared in Sydney Central Local Court yesterday afternoon and is due to reappear on 29 October. The second man will appear this morning.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.
