Burleigh Heads man Rhys Alwyn Ferszt, 35, charged with attempt to import 140kg of cocaine
A former long-term City of Gold Coast employee has faced court for the first time on four charges relating to an alleged attempt to smuggle bricks of cocaine inside marine engines from California to the Gold Coast hinterland.
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A Gold Coast man could be facing life in prison if he is found guilty of allegedly smuggling 140kg of cocaine inside a sea container before hiding it at a hinterland property.
The Burleigh Heads man, Rhys Alwyn Ferszt, 35, a former lifeguard and long-term City of Gold Coast employee, made no application for bail when he appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday on a charge of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, contrary to subsection 11.1(1) and 307.5(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
He is also charged with failing to comply with an order to provide details necessary to access information stored electronically, and two counts of breaching bail conditions, which the court heard related to his alleged possession of more than one mobile phone, and downloading encrypted messaging apps.
The charges were adjourned to May 19.
In a statement, the Australian Federal Police said that on October 28 last year, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers allegedly discovered the cocaine inside several plastic-wrapped blocks inside a sea container which was shipped from California to Brisbane.
The blocks were allegedly hidden inside two marine engines contained within wooden crates.
“Initial testing of the blocks returned a positive result for cocaine and the matter was referred to the AFP,” the statement said.
The AFP then substituted the illicit drugs with an inert substance before putting the blocks back inside the engines so they could track the delivery.
On November 14, the container was taken to a semirural property in Mount Nathan before the substance was allegedly removed and taken to a property in Wongawallan the next day.
The AFP statement said police would allege Mr Ferszt visited the property in Wongawallan and tried to get what he thought was the cocaine, but “left empty-handed”.
Three days later, the AFP executed search warrants at his Burleigh Heads home and the properties in Mount Nathan and Wongawallan.
“Police located two wooden crates and two large marine engines in a shed at the property in Wongawallan, as well as a forklift, which was allegedly hired by the man to move the crates,” the AFP said.
“Mobile phones and power tools were among the items seized from the properties.”
In court on Tuesday, defence lawyer Michael Gatenby said the prosecution had made a number of “bald assertions” about his client in the material disclosed thus far.
He said he would be requesting further evidence to “support those assertions”.
Once received, he flagged that his client would likely make a bail application.
Mr Ferszt was formerly a long-term City of Gold Coast employee working as a full-time roads and drainage officer, although it’s understood his employment ended several years ago.
He was also employed as a lifeguard and, during his younger years, was a swimmer of some repute. Latterly, he has been a bodybuilder.
AFP acting commander Adrian Telfer, speaking generally, said the AFP would always target those who “prioritise profits over people’s lives and have zero regard for the pain and suffering they cause”.
“Criminal syndicates will hide these hideous illicit drugs in all types of containers to smuggle them into our country and circulate them throughout our communities,” he said.
“The message to these criminals is a simple one. If you try to import illicit drugs into Australia, the AFP will find and destroy them, and you will be prosecuted.”
ABF inspector Kylie Black said the impact of these illicit drugs on society was “devastating” and was “driving crime and addiction into our neighbourhoods”.
For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online at www.counsellingonline.org.au.
For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to www.turningpoint.org.au
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Originally published as Burleigh Heads man Rhys Alwyn Ferszt, 35, charged with attempt to import 140kg of cocaine
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