Luis Alberto Salgado: Family puts up $300,000 surety for alleged coke smuggler
A court has been told the “working-class family” of a young man accused of smuggling cocaine into the country in wine bottles, soup sachets and shampoo has made the ultimate sacrifice for him.
Macarthur
Don't miss out on the headlines from Macarthur. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Gunned down ‘Romeo’ faces weapons, drugs charges
- Businessman charged after cops find child abuse files
The working-class family of a young man charged with smuggling cocaine into Australia in wine bottles and shampoo has made the “ultimate sacrifice” to secure his bail, a court has heard.
Luis Alberto Salgado has been granted release to live at his family’s Harrington Park home, after his parents promised a $300,000 surety to be taken out against the property.
Salgado had been behind bars since his arrest at Sydney Airport on February 20 when Australian Border Force officers selected him for a bag examination.
Police will allege trace scans of the 20-year-old’s luggage tested positive for cocaine, with X-rays discovering cocaine inside wine bottles, soup sachets, shampoo and shaving cream.
It is estimated officers allegedly located about 2kg of the drug in total.
Salgado, a graduate of Blacktown’s Patrician Brothers College, had returned to the country on a flight from Chile.
He was charged with importing and possession of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
Downing Centre Local Court heard on Tuesday the alleged purity and weight of the drugs was still unknown, with defence barrister Greg Stanton telling the court those findings would come under “significant scrutiny”.
Salgado’s parents, immigrants from Peru, were described as “hardworking, working-class folk” who had been devastated by their son’s arrest.
“They are prepared to pay the ultimate sacrifice by offering up their home,” Mr Stanton said.
Magistrate Garry Still granted conditional bail, warning Salgado any breach would see him locked up noting the “substantial” amount of drugs he was accused of smuggling into the country.
The bail conditions include not going within 1km of an international point of departure and to report to Camden police.
Salgado recently celebrated his 20th birthday in prison at Kempsey’s Mid North Coast Correctional Centre.
His social media feed depicts a popular young man obsessed with football and the Peruvian national team.
The matter will return to court on May 27.