Drug dogs have uncovered hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine and methamphetamine coming into Tasmania.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A Mowbray man was stopped at Hobart International Airport on Thursday after flying in from Sydney.
The 26-year-old allegedly hid 214 grams of methamphetamine and 128 grams of cocaine in his clothing. The drugs were estimated to be worth more than $145,000.
A 36-year-old Victorian man travelling with him allegedly brought in 260 grams of methamphetamine and 134 grams of cocaine, valued at more than $170,000.
He was charged with trafficking in controlled drugs and obtaining an airline ticket under a false name. The Northern Tasmanian man was charged with trafficking in controlled drugs.
Both were expected to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday.
Tasmania Police said the seizure was the result of routine searches at the airport.
It was previously revealed more than $500,000 worth of ice and cocaine had been seized at Hobart International Airport in the nine months prior to March this year.
A total of more than $9 million worth of cannabis, methamphetamine, amphetamine, ecstasy, heroin and cocaine was seized by police statewide in that nine-month period.
Thursday’s bust also comes after a major operation in May, which involved screenings at Launceston, Devonport, Wynyard and Hobart airports. More than 25 officers from Tasmania Police, Australian Federal Police and Border Force were involved in the operation as well as five police dogs.
The continued police crackdown coincides with a state government push for Tasmania to have the lowest ice usage of any state by 2020.
Tasmania Police said it would continue to target airports as part of its efforts.
“Tasmania Police would like to remind the community that, as a matter of course, their members regularly screen passengers disembarking at all of Tasmania’s airports,” they said.
IN OTHER NEWS
