A 91-year-old Australian man may be the oldest drug
trafficker in the world, if he is convicted of smuggling cocaine.
Victor Twartz, from Sydney, has been charged with importing
approximately 4.5 kilograms of cocaine from India to Australia in packets of
soap on July 8.
According to a joint statement by the Australian Federal
Police and the Australian Border Force, the
man was stopped and had his luggage
searched as he arrived at Sydney Airport. Authorities discovered 27 packages of
soap which turned up positive readings for cocaine.
Twartz, a former oral surgeon, told ABC's 7:30 Report he met
up with people in Dehli that he had connected with online. As he was leaving,
Twartz claims he was handed a bag that his acquaintances said contained gifts
for someone in Australia.
Police have warned travellers to be wary of scams and to
pack their own luggage when travelling overseas, suggesting the man may have
actually been the victim of fraud. "Claiming ignorance of drugs hidden
inside your luggage does not automatically mean you will not face criminal
charges," Acting Assistant Commissioner Buchhorn said in a statement.
"People can expect they will be charged if they
knowingly bring drugs into Australia, or are reckless or wilfully blind to the
fact that there could be narcotics concealed inside their luggage or items they
are carrying."
Australian Border Force's New South Wales Commander, Tim
Fitzgerald, also urged travellers to be fully aware of the luggage they are
carrying.
"Luggage is a personal responsibility. If you've been
asked to carry something on behalf of another person, be sure you know exactly
what is inside," he said in a statement. "We recommend that you do
not allow another person to pack your bag and do not carry luggage on behalf of
another person."
Twartz faced court in Sydney on Tuesday morning. He turned
up in a three-piece tweed suit and hat, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The maximum sentence for importing a commercial quantity of
cocaine is life imprisonment.
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