A man from New Zealand fronted court yesterday after allegedly smuggling over 10kg of cocaine into Sydney.

The permanent resident landed at Sydney Airport on a flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates on June 19.

Officials from the Australian Border Force conducted a luggage inspection of the man’s belongings and reportedly discovered nine sealed packages containing an unidentified substance concealed within the suitcase’s lining. Additionally, they found $10,000 in cash and a device believed to be encrypted.

A test of the substance allegedly returned a positive result for cocaine, with an estimated weight of 10.39kg.

The 28-year-old man was charged with importing a commercial quantity of drugs.

He fronted the Downing Centre Local Court yesterday. 

ABF Superintendent Elke West said the force is dedicated to stopping drugs from entering the country.

“The ABF is Australia’s first line of defence at our border – one of the largest and most challenging environments in the world,” West said.

“Each successful alleged detection is a reminder of the critical role our organisations play in keeping our country safe.”

“Every gram of illicit substance we stop at the border is one less opportunity for harm to our community – that’s what drives our work.

“The persistent efforts of our partnerships, intelligence operations, and the commitment of ABF officers are consistently developing an inhospitable setting for criminal networks and their operatives at the border.”

The man faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.