NSW: Suspected cocaine smuggler was concerned about Schapelle

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2006
NSW: Suspected cocaine smuggler was concerned about Schapelle

A court has been told a man accused of plotting to smuggle cocaine through baggage
handlers at Sydney Airport .. became concerned about how the publicity surrounding SCHAPELLE
CORBY's arrest would impact the plan.

IAN ROBERT CHALMERS allegedly told another conspirator during a March phone call last
year .. he'd been watching the news about CORBY's case and how it had been traced back
to airport personnel.

The 41 year old has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to import a commercial quantity
of cocaine into Australia in 2005.







Crown Prosecutor DAVID STAEHLI SC has told the NSW District Court .. CHALMERS had
bought the plane tickets for drug courier PHILLIP GORDON TYLER and organised travel for
another co-accused.

Mr STAEHLI says the plan was to import cocaine from Argentina into Australia with the
help of baggage handlers at the airport.

The courier would fly to Sydney from South America before joining a connecting Qantas
flight to another state.

But Mr STAEHLI says the bag containing the drugs would be intercepted by baggage handlers
and wouldn't be placed on the connecting flight.

He says this case followed the successful importation of nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine
through Sydney Airport in October 2004 .. in which Chalmers was not involved.

The case continues.

AAP RTV lma/cj/was/es/bart

KEYWORD: CHALMERS (SYDNEY)

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