Businessman, bartender caught in airport cocaine bust

A United States businessman and Melbourne bartender had planned to party after they arrived on the Sunshine Coast, until a sniffer dog got in the way.

Reuben Beasley-Palmer, 23, was one of two men caught with cocaine in his pants pocket at the Sunshine Coast Airport.

A UNITED States businessman and Melbourne bartender were detained at the Sunshine Coast Airport after a sniffer dog busted them with cocaine in their pants.

US citizen Joseph Edward Banafato, 36, and bartender Reuben Beasley-Palmer, 23, planned to party after they stepped off a flight from Melbourne on Friday, August 23.

Police prosecutor Stuart Lydford said instead, they were detained by police and busted with one gram each of cocaine hidden in their pants pockets.

Banafato and Beasley-Palmer appeared separately before Maroochydore Magistrates Court today and pleaded guilty to possessing the dangerous drug.

Sgt Lydford said the circumstances were the same for each charge.

Banafato’s lawyer told the court his client had no criminal history and the drugs were for recreational use during his upcoming birthday celebrations.

The court heard Banafato was the founder of a US technology company, he now ran a consulting firm and regularly volunteered at a charity which organised breast cancer events.

The court heard Beasley-Palmer worked full time, had no criminal history and was due to return home tomorrow.

During Beasely-Palmer’s sentence, magistrate Rod Madsen said he did not often see people possessing that particular drug at that location.

He fined each man $750 and did not record convictions given their otherwise good character and lack of history.

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