A 29-year-old airline employee from Newtown has been arrested and charged after allegedly attempting to import 4.1 litres of gamma butyrolactone (GBL) into Australia in shampoo bottles.
The man, who was performing his duties on an international flight from South Africa, arrived at Sydney Airport on 7 December 2024. Upon examination by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers, three shampoo bottles and a water bottle were found wrapped in clothing within a clip-seal bag.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Dom Stephenson emphasized the AFP’s commitment to preventing drug trafficking and targeting insiders who abuse their positions to facilitate criminal activities.
Initial testing of the liquid confirmed it contained GBL, a border-controlled substance. The AFP was notified, and the man was arrested and charged with importing a commercial quantity of GBL, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
ABF Superintendent Elke West highlighted the importance of domestic and international cooperation in countering the growing threat posed by trusted insiders attempting to bypass border controls.
The man appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on 9 December 2024 and was remanded in custody, with a further hearing scheduled for 4 February 2025.
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