Perth man jailed 10 years for cocaine smuggling operation using face masks and food packets
A 35-year-old man from Perth CBD has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a cocaine smuggling operation that brought drugs into Australia through international mail shipments concealed inside face masks, curry packets and tomato soup sachets.
The man was sentenced on May 25, 2026, after being found guilty of importing around four kilograms of cocaine through eight separate parcels sent from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland between November 2022 and April 2023.
According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the parcels were sent to an address provided by the accused and were designed to hide the illegal drugs inside common household and food products.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector David Blockley warned that even smaller quantities of illicit drugs can cause serious harm to communities.
“This investigation sends a clear message to anyone attempting to bring illegal substances into Australia — authorities will identify offenders, seize drugs and take legal action,” he said.
The man pleaded guilty to several offences, including conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine, cocaine trafficking, dealing with proceeds of crime, and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis. He was given a non-parole period of six years and six months.
The investigation also resulted in convictions for two other individuals connected to the proceeds of crime case.
A 33-year-old man from Morley was sentenced in December 2023 to 15 months in prison for dealing with $200,000 suspected to be linked to drug proceeds.
Meanwhile, a 39-year-old woman from Piara Waters received a six-month suspended sentence and a $5,000 fine in February 2026 for handling $100,000 believed to be drug-related funds.