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Qantas workers arrested in drug smuggling bust
Two Qantas baggage handlers employed at Sydney Airport have been busted for cocaine smuggling.
Police arrested Qantas employees Darren Bragg and Michael McPherson and three other men.
They allegedly handled a shipment of about 100 kilograms of cocaine which was hidden on an inbound flight.
Australian Federal Police allege the two men used their job as airside baggage handlers to move five large bags of cocaine to a car driven by another man.
Two more men were later arrested in Sydney.
The plane had arrived from South Africa.
AFP Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy said drugs gangs dealing in importations actively look to recruit airport workers and especially baggage handlers to help with their operations.
“The organiser of this importation was well-organised and well-resourced,” she said.
“Any group that has the means and the access to source and import 100 kilograms is a significant threat to Australia’s interests.”
Detective Superintendent Cressy says investigations are continuing in South Africa.
The AFP said the drugs operation were under investigation for a year before the arrests \suspicious activity’ was noted by an aviation partner in South Africa.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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