Two Scottish tourists have been charged after police allegedly found 107 kilograms of ketamine and cash in the boot of their rental car and a flat in Sydney, Australia. The drugs have an estimated street value of AUD$11 million (about £5.7 million).
Drugs and paraphernalia found in Artarmon flat
On Friday, June 26, detectives from North Shore Police Area Command raided a unit on Hampden Road in the Sydney suburb of Artarmon. They seized approximately two kilograms of prohibited drugs, believed to be ketamine, along with scales, disposable gloves, clear resealable bags containing a white crystallised residue, and items of luggage.
Police track suspects to North Sydney hotel
Acting Crime Manager for North Shore Police Area Command Detective Acting Inspector Alison Dixon told news.com.au that drug syndicates are increasingly using short-term rentals to avoid detection. “We have seen this before in short stays and encourage property owners to be wary,” she said. “People staying in hotels and Airbnbs, we see a lot of illegal activities come and go through those places. Stuff out of the ordinary that doesn’t look right... if it doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t.”
Police said the investigation combined “good old-fashioned police work” with technology to track the alleged owner of the abandoned luggage to a hotel in North Sydney. On Monday, June 29, officers executed a search warrant at the hotel, finding multiple mobile phones, AUD$2,000 (£1,047) in cash, and handwritten drug ledgers. They then searched a rental car in the hotel carpark, allegedly finding approximately 105 kilograms of a prohibited drug – again believed to be ketamine – in the boot.
Charges and court appearance
A 30-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, both from Scotland, were arrested and charged with supply of a prohibited drug larger than indictable and less than commercial quantity, and supply prohibited drug larger than or equal to large commercial quantity. Police allege the pair traveled to Australia solely to distribute and supply large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs.
The duo appeared at Manly Local Court on June 30 and were refused bail. They remain in custody until their next court appearance at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, August 26. Investigations are ongoing.
