SYDNEY: Australian customs caught a British cruise ship passenger after she attempted to smuggle 1.5 litres of liquid cocaine in a lava lamp.
The woman, 22, was stopped by customs officers at White Bay Cruise Terminal in Sydney after disembarking from a cruise ship from New Caledonia. Initial tests on liquid inside a lava lamp returned positive results for cocaine and triggered a response from a customs dog.
The woman has been charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug. Further tests will be conducted to determine the purity and weight of the substance.
“No matter what the concealment method or entry point is, our officers are alert to those who attempt to breach our border,” said Demetrio Veteri, Deputy National Director of Australian customs.
If found guilty, the woman can face a maximum penalty of imprisonment up to 25 years and a fine of up to $ 850,000.
