Newcaslte Man Charged Over Major Drug Smuggling Attempt

BY OLIVIA DILLON

 

A Newcastle man is one of five people charged in relation to a flight from Papua New Guinea to Australia, which had 52 kilograms of methamphetamine onboard.

It's believed the drugs have a street value of $15 million.

It's alleged the man from Newcastle, helped transport a tank of aviation gas to central Queensland to refill the aircraft used to smuggle the drugs.

After all five men were arrested, a search warrant was issued a the man's home in Wallsend.

If convicted, he'll face a maximum penalty of life in prison.

 

Police believe the men are part of an international crime syndicate, and are currently undergoing investigations into where they sourced the drugs, who else was involved in their transportation. 

 

Image: AFP

 

Cessnock Prison Officer Caught Smuggling Claims Inmates Pressured Him

BY IAN CROUCH

A prison officer who was caught smuggling contraband into Cessnock Gaol says he felt pressured to do it.

Beau Martin told police the smuggling started with small-time items like food, toothbrushes and cologne, but then progressed to banned items like tobacco and mobile phones.

The 30-year-old says he complied with inmates demands because they threatened him, saying they knew where his son lived.

Fairfax reports Martin was paid more than $2,000 to bring contraband into the gaol -he's pleaded guilty to two counts of agent corruptly receiving a benefit, two counts of unlawfully delivering items to an inmate and attempting to bring prohibited drugs into gaol.

Martin will be sentenced in May.