Brisbane news live: Qld man facing life imprisonment after allegedly trying to import $11m of meth

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Queensland man facing life imprisonment after allegedly trying to import $11 million of meth

By Patrick Brischetto

A man from the Gold Coast has been charged with allegedly trying to import 35 kilograms of meth into Australia.

The 62-year-old was stopped by Australian Border Force officers when touching down at Brisbane Airport on a flight from Los Angeles on September 5. After examining his luggage, they located 12 plastic-sealed bags containing a white crystallised substance.

Initial testing returned a positive result for methamphetamine, and 35-kilogram haul had an estimated street value of $11.4 million, according to the Australian Federal Police.

The meth had an estimated street value of $11.4 million.

The man was charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

He faced Brisbane Arrest Court at the weekend. AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Shane Scott said the arrest was part of an ongoing effort from law and border enforcement to quell the supply of illegal drugs into Australia.

“This seizure could have equated to 17,500 individual street-level deals of 0.2 grams, with an estimated street value of $11.4 million now no longer destined for the pockets of criminals,” he said.

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In this morning’s local headlines:

Community members, including Anglican priests, have rallied around an Islamic school in Brisbane’s south after a bomb threat forced students and staff members to evacuate.

Preliminary concept art for the proposed stadium at Stapylton.

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Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt will lash Queensland’s Liberal National government’s pull-back from renewable projects in a speech today, accusing the state of adopting a short-sighted energy policy that would drive away investment and squander jobs.

On Monday, Premier David Crisafulli again vowed to stamp out the CFMEU in Queensland following further revelations of intimidatory mafia-style attacks in the construction sector.

Despite turbulent injuries at the club and rampant social media scrutiny, Broncos fullback Reece Walsh appears to be getting better and better. Sports reporter Nick Wright also speaks to Broncos stars Pat Carrigan, Ben Hunt and Billy Walters ahead of their finals clash with Canberra.

And in AFL, two of the Lions’ biggest stars have succumbed to season-ending injuries. But two AFL champions have warned to write them off at your own peril.