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ABC News
ABC News
National

Man faces court after $5m in cocaine, ice allegedly found in airport luggage

Police say the cocaine and methylamphetamine has a street value of $5.5 million.

Australian Federal Police are investigating how a man allegedly smuggled more than $5 million worth of drugs through Sydney Airport and boarded a plane for Hobart.

Police allege a drug detection dog indicated towards the man when he arrived on a flight from Sydney to Hobart on Monday night.

A subsequent search of his luggage allegedly found 2 kilograms of cocaine in carry-on luggage and 3.5 kilograms of methylamphetamine in a suitcase.

The street value is estimated at $5.5 million.

"During this screening, the drug detector dogs indicated for a possible trace of illicit drugs on the man which led to us speaking with him and searching his bags," Australian Federal Police Sergeant Nick Gibson told a media conference on Tuesday.

"The benefit of the dogs is that they can locate these kinds of things just from the scent."

Jye Baldwin, 32, from Claremont in southern Tasmania was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and briefly appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

He did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on April 20.

Tasmania Police officers with two detection dogs used at Hobart Airport.

Sgt Gibson said police were investigating how drugs could have got through Sydney Airport.

"It's a significant concern for the Tasmanian community and the Australian community," he said.

"It's up to our law enforcement partners and us to ensure that we're on the forefront in the fight against these drugs."

The seizure comes just days after a 49-year-old man from northern Tasmania was charged with drug trafficking, with police alleging they found 20 kilograms of cannabis in a car set to board the Spirit of Tasmania.

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