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AAP
AAP
National
Melissa Meehan

Swiss national accused of $8m cocaine haul

A Swiss national has been charged after bags of cocaine were allegedly found in his suitcase. (HANDOUT/AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE)

A Swiss national has faced court after being charged with drug offences after $8 million worth of cocaine was allegedly found in his luggage. 

Australian Border Force officers allegedly found the illicit drugs on Friday after selecting the man for a baggage examination when he arrived in Melbourne on a flight from Los Angeles. 

They found packages of a white substance hidden in 20 black plastic bags in a suitcase. 

The bag of cocaine found by border force officers
Border force officers allegedly found 25kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of $8 million. (HANDOUT/AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE)

Initial testing of the substance by the Australian Federal Police returned a positive result for cocaine. 

Detective Superintendent Simon Butcher said the 25kg of cocaine could have been sold in almost 125,000 street deals with an estimated value of $8 million. 

"Despite all the risks involved, we are still regularly charging people who have attempted to bring illicit drugs into our country through our airports," Det Supt Butcher said.

"The AFP and our partners are working tirelessly to prevent illicit drugs from reaching the Australian community and stop criminals profiting at the community's expense."

Reda Raghay, 21, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with possession and importation of cocaine and was remanded in custody, according to court documents.

He is expected to appear again in the same court on March 31. 

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