Drug mule busted after flying with $135,000 worth of cannabis in luggage

A MAN who flew to Alice Springs with 27 times the threshold of the commercial quantity of cannabis – worth at least $135,000, has been jailed.

A DRUG mule has been jailed after he flew from Adelaide to Alice Springs with 27 times the threshold of the commercial quantity of cannabis – worth at least $135,000, in his checked baggage.

Luke Foster, 27, was sentenced in Alice Springs Supreme Court after leaving the Territory town in a hire vehicle to go back to Adelaide after spotting a drug detection dog clue onto his bag as it circulated on the airport carousel.

The court heard he later returned to the Territory under a different name and attempted to collect his bag from the airport to be told police had taken the bag.

“It is agreed that the bag in fact contained 13,642 grams of cannabis, packaged within six individually packed, sealed plastic bag … which were covered in toothpaste in an attempt to avoid law enforcement detecting the presence of the cannabis,” Justice Trevor Riley said.

“The amount of cannabis is over 27 times the threshold of the commercial quantity for that drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

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“The estimated value of the cannabis if sold in 1-pound allotments was over $135,000.

“If sold in smaller allotments, of course, the figure would be much greater.”

The court heard a warrant was issued for his arrest in February 2020, but he was not arrested until December due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

“You became involved at the suggestion of a friend. At the time you had debts and your friend suggested to you that you could earn $6000,” Justice Riley said.

“You were told to book a flight to Alice Springs, stay at a particular hotel and hand the cannabis to a person who would knock on your door.”

The court heard he believed a payment would help him alleviate a debt owed to his parents.

“This was not a case of true financial need, or a case where you were offending to support your own addiction. This was a money-making enterprise which you knew was criminal.”

Foster was convicted and sentenced to nine months jail, to be suspended after 9 months.

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