Adriano Gustavo Leonardi Thiem charged after allegedly trying to import cocaine on cruise ship

A cruise ship passenger is behind bars after allegedly trying to smuggle up to $3m worth of cocaine into Sydney.

The cocaine allegedly found on the cruise ship. Picture: Australian Federal Police

A cruise ship passenger is behind bars after allegedly trying to smuggle cocaine potentially worth $3m into Sydney.

Australian Border Force officers claim to have found 28 packages of cocaine, weighing about 10kg, hidden in the ceiling cavity of Adriano Gustavo Leonardi Thiem’s cabin when they searched a ship that had arrived in Sydney Harbour from Argentina on Saturday.

“They also uncovered body packing material in the ceiling cavity and in the wardrobe, which is used by drug couriers to try to carry drugs across borders or other security checkpoints without detection,” the Australian Federal Police said in a statement.

Police arrested Thiem, 48, and searched his phone, which allegedly contained of involvement in drug trafficking.

The Brazilian national did not apply for bail when he faced Downing Centre Local Court on Monday, charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug.

The drugs were allegedly found in the ceiling cavity of a cabin on the cruise ship. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Thiem, who faces a maximum penalty of life behind bars if convicted, was remanded in custody to face court again on May 14.

AFP Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy said the cocaine could have fetched about $3m if sold by the gram on the street.

ABF Superintendent Matt O’Connor said the cruising season brought opportunities for criminal syndicates to attempt to smuggle drugs into Australia, but his organisation’s officers were “very attuned to their pivoting tactics”.