Belal Mahmoud pleads guilty to obtaining a flight ticket using false ID and possessing drugs at the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court

A man’s dream vacation in Brisbane ended before he could even pass security at Melbourne airport after he was caught with a glass pipe in his underwear, drugs and a fake name on his ticket.

Belal Mahmoud pleads guilty to obtaining a flight ticket using false ID and possessing drugs at the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court

A man’s dream Brisbane vacation ended before he could even pass security at Melbourne airport after getting caught with a glass pipe in his underwear, drugs and a fake name on his ticket.

Belal Mahmoud, 28, fronted Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to obtaining a flight ticket using false ID and possessing drugs.

In September last year, Mahmoud arrived at the Melbourne Airport’s domestic terminal with a female friend to hop on a flight to Brisbane.

However, when passing the security check, he set the alarm off, and officers discovered a glass pipe hidden in his underwear.

When asked to go through security again, the scanner beeped again. Mahmoud then showed the officers a small clear glass bottle filled with Butanediol (commonly used as a source for GHB), claiming it to be “juice”.

Further inquiries revealed Mahmoud was using a boarding pass with the name ‘James’ — not his own.

When asked about the false name on his boarding pass, Mahmoud said it was his friend’s ticket who could not go on the trip and gave it to him.

Mahmoud’s defence lawyer told the court his client had obtained the ticket with consent and was dealing with personal issues at the time.

“He has just divorced his partner of eight years … he was trying to have a break at the holidays, but it is not an excuse, and he understands that,” he said.

The court heard Mahmoud had a history of “dishonesty” and drug-related offences but his defence lawyer argued Mahmoud had not been in trouble since 2016.

“My client grew up with challenges; his parents are from Syria … at 14, he was kicked out of school and home and was on the streets, and that’s when his relationship with drugs began,” the defence lawyer said.

“The lack of stability that most people of that age would have; he didn’t have the support from family or a formal education.

“This has been tough, but he is stable now and is the father of two children who are 8.”

Magistrate Adriano Serratore told Mahmoud he had a long history of drugs and that it was “time to get it under wraps”.

“I don’t know what you were thinking going through security and thinking you wouldn’t get caught … that’s pretty foolish,” he said.

“I am going to ask you to undertake a drug-education program … this is your opportunity to do so for your own benefit.”

Mahmoud was given an adjourned undertaking for 12 months with a $500 bond and ordered to do drug counselling.