Qantas workers arrested in drug smuggling bust
Two Qantas baggage handlers employed at Sydney Airport have been busted for cocaine smuggling.
Police arrested Qantas employees Darren Bragg and Michael McPherson and three other men.
They allegedly handled a shipment of about 100 kilograms of cocaine which was hidden on an inbound flight.
Australian Federal Police allege the two men used their job as airside baggage handlers to move five large bags of cocaine to a car driven by another man.
Two more men were later arrested in Sydney.
The plane had arrived from South Africa.
AFP Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy said drugs gangs dealing in importations actively look to recruit airport workers and especially baggage handlers to help with their operations.
“The organiser of this importation was well-organised and well-resourced,” she said.
“Any group that has the means and the access to source and import 100 kilograms is a significant threat to Australia’s interests.”
Detective Superintendent Cressy says investigations are continuing in South Africa.
The AFP said the drugs operation were under investigation for a year before the arrests \suspicious activity’ was noted by an aviation partner in South Africa.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025