Hassan Abu Khalil faces court on cocaine charge after sniffer dogs at Brisbane Airport prompt search

A man who flew in from the US has faced court in Brisbane after allegedly smuggling cocaine worth an estimated $800,000 in shampoo and conditioner bottles in his luggage.

A man from the United States has fronted Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning after allegedly smuggling cocaine worth an estimated $800,000 in shampoo and conditioner bottles in his luggage.

Australian Border Force officers at Brisbane Airport selected the 33-year-old man who had travelled from the US for a search after drug detection dogs alerted them to the possible presence of illicit drugs on Boxing Day.

The man has been identified as Hassan Abu Khalil.

He appeared briefly via video link and represented himself.

Commonwealth prosecutor Tian Behenna said there was an extensive amount of work to be completed on the seized mobile phone and additional material being sought from the US.

Abu Khalil said he had made an application to Legal Aid.

ABF officers performed a presumptive drug test on two 946ml bottles and the AFP were called when the tests returned a positive result for cocaine.

Police allege an amount of cocaine found in shampoo and conditioner bottles could be worth $800,000.

Police allege the combined weight of the cocaine was 2.2kg which could have been sold as 10,000 street deals totalling an estimated street value of $880,000.

The man was charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine – an offence that carries a maximum of 25-years of imprisonment.

The man will reappear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday morning after bail was opposed at a hearing on December 27.

AFP Superintendent Natalie Scott said transnational organised crime syndicates saw Australia as a lucrative drug market and tried a variety of methods to smuggle illicit substances into the country.

“While these syndicates try to prey on our communities to make money, the AFP, ABF and partners are committed to stopping illicit drugs from entering Australia and inflicting harm in our communities,” Supt Scott said.

Hassan Abu Khalil was arrested after a search of his luggage at Brisbane Airport.

ABF Superintendent John Ikin said the strong management of the Australian border by his officers would continue to frustrate organised crime networks in their efforts to infiltrate the country.

“Trafficking drugs and other illicit commodities destroys lives, damages communities and fuels violence,” Supt Ikin said.

“Criminals should be warned, there is no clever way to import drugs. You will be caught. ABF officers use every means at their disposal, including highly trained dogs, advanced technology and intelligence shared by partner agencies nationally and globally, to detect and deter the scourge of illicit drugs at our border.”

Magistrate Mark Nolan ordered a brief of evidence to be compiled by May 2.

The case was adjourned to May 16 for mention.

Abu Khalil remains in custody.

Originally published as Hassan Abu Khalil faces court on cocaine charge after sniffer dogs at Brisbane Airport prompt search