Laert Kasaj pleads guilty to helping import ecstasy to Sydney in barbecues

A man will be sentenced after pleading guilty to being part of a plot to import ecstasy hidden inside barbecues bound for Sydney.

A man helped import a whopping haul of MDMA from Cyprus to Sydney hidden inside barbies.

Canadian Laert Kasaj, 35, has pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the importation of a border controlled drug.

Kasaj, whose co-accused is Gold Coaster Luke Humphries, 32, of Coomera, was arraigned in the Sydney District Court on Tuesday (October 19).

The Canadian, who is originally from Thornhill near Toronto, admitted to visiting a warehouse in Smeaton Grange, NSW in December 2019 where the barbecues had been transported.

The joint law enforcement operation spanned six months and three countries. Picture: AFP

The drugs were stashed inside barbecues. Photo: Australian Federal Police.

Unbeknown to Kasaj, the AFP had been tipped off to the drug shipment by authorities in Cyprus and swapped it out for an inert substance.

Kasaj appeared in court via videolink from jail where he is being kept on remand.

The slightly built Kasaj had his hair cut short and was sporting a smattering of facial hair.

Judge Dina Yehia adjourned Kasaj’s case until next month.

“The matter of Kasaj is adjourned until November 12 to fix a sentence date and join the matters of co-accused Luke Humphries,” Judge Yehia said.