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Brazilian man jailed after being caught with cocaine at Auckland Airport

Publish Date
Fri, 16 Mar 2018, 6:02PM
Auckland Airport customs officials. (Photo/ Bevan Conley)
Auckland Airport customs officials. (Photo/ Bevan Conley)

Brazilian man jailed after being caught with cocaine at Auckland Airport

Publish Date
Fri, 16 Mar 2018, 6:02PM

A Brazilian man will spend eight years and six months in jail in New Zealand after being caught with cocaine in a suitcase at Auckland Airport last year.

Marlon Batista de Macedo, 33, was sentenced in Manukau District Court on Friday, according to New Zealand Customs.

He denied any knowledge of the cocaine and said he agreed to carry the bag so he could get free travel to New Zealand.

Customs Manager Passenger Operations at Auckland Airport, Peter Lewis, says criminal syndicates will target willing individuals to get their drugs delivered into foreign countries, without caring for their wellbeing or the repercussions they face.

In this case 2.6kg of cocaine, worth up to $1.8 million, was found in a Samsonite suitcase.

"This man will now spend eight and a half years in our prison, away from family living overseas and carry a criminal conviction, which will have an effect on his future - the consequences are never worth the risk," he said.

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