Private schoolboy allegedly busted smuggling coke via mail

Bennet Schwartz, 29, a senior analyst at Rio Tinto and former Sydney Grammar schoolboy, was weeks from marrying his fiancee when arrested for allegedly trying to import 23kg of cocaine worth $7m.

A HIGH-flying Sydney mining executive has allegedly smuggled 23kg of cocaine — worth up to $7m — from the US through the mail.

Bennet Schwartz, 29, who was weeks away from marrying his fiancee, is now locked up in a Sydney prison with his life in tatters as he awaits his next date in court. If convicted he faces a life sentence.

Privileged Sydney private schoolboy turned accused cocaine smuggler Bennet Schwartz and fiance Sarah at their engagement party.

Schwartz was arrested by the Australian Federal Police at Sydney’s domestic airport on September 2 when he was pulled off a flight on which he was travelling with fiancee paediatric nurse Sarah Wakefield.

The glamorous couple, both originally from Sydney, were living in a riverfront apartment in the affluent suburb of New Farm in Brisbane when Schwartz was arrested. The couple’s wedding, which was supposed to be held last month, was hastily called off after he was handcuffed and bundled away by police.

The cocaine seized by the AFP, which resulted in charges against Bennet Schwartz. Picture: AFP

Property records show Schwartz owns two apartments in New Farm, purchased for a total of $1.1 million in 2014 and 2015.

Schwartz and Wakefield both come from privileged backgrounds.

Schwartz studied at the prestigious University of Sydney and was schooled at the exclusive Sydney Grammar. His LinkedIn profile states he worked as a “senior analyst” for mining giant Rio Tinto in their Asia Pacific East projects team. He also sold teas online through his website “Tea Time”.

Schwartz was a former student of the elite Sydney Grammar School.

His mother Laelie lives in Paddington in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and ran as a candidate for Woollahra Council in 2012.

Wakefield graduated from one of Sydney’s top private schools, Kambala in Rose Bay, in 2009 and her engagement to Schwartz was noted in the school newsletter.

Police allege Schwartz was involved with two other men in importing two packages of cocaine through the mail from the US.

The first package — allegedly containing 8.4kg of cocaine — was sent on August 3 last year and was detected by customs officers. The second package — allegedly containing 15kg — was detected by customs on May 23 this year.

Schwartz has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine and is due back in Sydney’s Central Local Court on November 23.

Sarah Wakefield was due to marry fiance Bennet Schwartz before his arrest. Picture: Facebook

Schwartz’s two co-accused were arrested on September 12.

The alleged mastermind of the importation, Roberto Zalapa, 31, was arrested near his Potts Point home and is still in custody. Police later found $30,000 cash in his home.

Craig Phelps, 30, from Wamberal on the Central Coast, was granted bail by a magistrate on September 28 provided his family puts up $1 million surety.

Police allege Phelps “was attempting to take possession of a 16kg shipment of cocaine from the United States” when he was arrested in the Newcastle suburb of Adamstown.

He has been charged with possession of an unlawfully imported drug and dealing with identity documents.