SYDNEY — A 91-year-old retired oral surgeon has been charged with bringing cocaine hidden in soap into Australia, prompting police to warn travelers to beware being tricked into serving as drug mules.
Dr. Victor Twartz was released on bail when he appeared in Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine last month. He did not enter a plea and is due back in court on Oct. 6.
The Sydney man faces a life sentence if convicted of carrying 10 pounds of the drug into Sydney Airport on a July 8 flight from New Delhi. A search of his luggage found 27 packages of soap testing positive for cocaine, police said.
Police say it appears that Twartz was scammed by a group of people he had befriended online before his trip. Australian Federal Police official organized crime commander David Stewart said he had been in contact with the group over several months.
Police were tipped off by Twartz’s family about the e-mail exchanges but did not stop him from leaving Australia, Stewart said.
Twartz told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that as he was about to board his plane home, he was handed a bag that he was told contained gifts for someone in Australia.