BRITISH COUPLE CHARGED OVER £5.7M KETAMINE HAUL IN SYDNEY

Demi McDaid and Jack Farrelly, both from Scotland, have been charged after police in Sydney discovered 107kg of ketamine in a rental car. The pair were arrested at a hotel in Sydney on 26 June following a raid by New South Wales Police. Officers also recovered mobile phones, more than $2,000 in cash and documents alleged to be drug ledgers from the vehicle. A separate police raid at a holiday rental property on Hampden Road in Artarmon uncovered a further 2kg of ketamine.

McDaid and Farrelly have each been charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug — one larger than an indictable quantity and one larger than a commercial quantity. NSW Police allege the pair came to Australia "with the sole purpose of taking part in the distribution and supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs". According to police, the drugs have an estimated street value of AUD$11 million, equivalent to approximately £5.7 million. The couple appeared at Manly Local Court, where both were refused bail and ordered to reappear at Downing Centre Local Court on 25 August.

NSW Police stated the investigation resulted from a tip-off by locals about activity at the rented unit, combined with detective work. If convicted, the pair face up to 15 years imprisonment. Police released images showing the rental car packed with bags of ketamine and photographs of the drug following its seizure.