American appears in court over 4kg ice
A 69-year-old American man has appeared in a city court after he was allegedly caught smuggling 4kg of "ice" into Perth International Airport.
Robert Dewey Henson appeared briefly in the Perth Magistrate's Court this morning after he was arrested yesterday by customs and border protection officers who searched the lining of his luggage and allegedly found drugs.
He had arrived on a flight from Singapore.
Wearing a short-sleeve checked shirt, jeans, neat short hair and a moustache, Mr Henson responded "Yes Ma'am" when asked whether he understood the charge against him of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled substance, namely methamphetamine.
A duty lawyer said she had taken an application for a grant of Legal Aid and requested the case be adjourned to December 6. There was no application for bail.
It is alleged Australian Customs and Border Protection Service officers had conducted a full examination of the man’s baggage after selecting him for a search and noticed anomalies in the lining of the bag. Officers deconstructed the bag’s lining and found a white crystalised substance concealed inside.
Initial testing of the substance gave a positive result for methamphetamine.
ACBPS National Manager Airport Operations South, Tonie Differding, said this is a significant seizure for the airport and the Australian community.
“The seizure made by our officers has stopped a dangerous drug with an estimated street value of up to $4,000,000 from reaching Australian streets,” Ms Differding said.
The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police, who later charged the man with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
Further forensic testing will be undertaken to confirm the exact weight and purity of the substance.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment.
