Harris Shortland found guilty of smuggling cocaine via post to Alice Springs

A financial adviser has been found guilty of smuggling cocaine into Central Australia from overseas via post.

A HIGH-FLYING financial adviser has been found guilty of smuggling cocaine into Alice Springs from the United States via post.

Harris Shortland was found guilty of smuggling cocaine into Alice Springs.

Harris Shortland, 52, pleaded not guilty to five charges related to sending the illicit substance concealed in a clock, a robot, and a motorbike helmet from Los Angeles to Central Australia between 2017 and 2018.

Following a two-day deliberation, a jury on Friday unanimously found Shortland guilty of importing a marketable quantity of drugs, supplying a commercial quantity of a Schedule 1 drug, and receiving or possessing property from the commission of an offence.

Shortland was convicted of importing a marketable quantity of cocaine inside the motorbike helmet and of possessing $18,000 from the sale of cocaine in Alice Springs.

The jury found Shortland not guilty of supplying cocaine in the clock and the robot.

One count of supplying a commercial quantity of cocaine was dismissed during the trial.

The trial took place in the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Alice Springs over 13 days, with evidence given by Shortland’s former partner Roshani Byerely about her participation in the cocaine operation.

Each of the charges attract a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Shortland’s lawyer was granted leave to appeal the charge of supplying a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Shortland was remanded in custody and a sentencing date will likely be determined on November 10. He is listed as the director of a local financial planning company responsible for hundreds of clients, and is a former financial adviser at Westpac.