Mining consultant faces lengthy legal battle due to 'little gift'
- Replies 29
Nothing beats the feeling of coming home after being away for quite a while.
The excitement of gifting souvenirs and sharing stories of your travels with your loved ones makes travellers giddy.
However, in a tale akin to a thriller novel, a grandfather's homecoming turned into a nightmare that could see him spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Barry James Calverley, a 68-year-old mining consultant, was allegedly promised $11 million to carry a 'little gift' from Laos to Australia.
What appeared to be a simple task entangled him in the dark world of international drug trafficking.
Upon his arrival at Sydney Airport, Australian Border Force officers found around five kilograms of heroin, with an estimated street value of $2.25 million.
This discovery pushed Calverley into the centre of a legal storm, with charges of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug hanging over his head.
Calverley's ordeal began with a WhatsApp message that instructed him to travel to Laos and meet a man named 'Privham' to collect documents and a Vietnamese-brand camping chair.
Despite his suspicions, Calverley proceeded with the task, unaware that the camping chair bag he was transporting carried lines of heroin.
‘This is a classic case of a senior man being duped,’ Calverley’s legal aid lawyers came to his defence.
They argued that a seasoned drug importer would never carry documents that promised such a large sum of money as Calverley did.
‘The materials support him believing he had a reason to be going to Laos thinking he's going to get this very large sum of money and then carrying these documents that…any well-planned importer wouldn't even think about having. They make a nonsense of the whole arrangement. Sadly he has succumbed to this belief and if not granted bail, is at great risk in the prison system,’ they followed up.
The case raised questions about criminal organisations going to lengths to harm citizens, especially seniors.
Calverley has a 30-year history as a safety officer in the oil, gas, and resources industry.
Now, he found himself in the harsh environment of maximum security Macquarie prison near Dubbo, NSW.
As he struggles with the realities of prison life, Calverley also has several medical concerns, including cardiac issues, dermatitis, and psoriasis deemed untreatable in a prison facility.
His request for bail was denied by Magistrate Mark Whelan and left him to wait for his trial in custody.
The Australian Federal Police stated that the quantity of heroin found could have resulted in 25,000 street deals, citing the severity of the charges against him.
This distressing situation serves as a critical reminder for travelling seniors.
Be cautious when travelling, and always be wary of strangers offering money for seemingly simple tasks.
It's essential to stay informed about the risks of international travel and to be aware of the tactics used by criminals to exploit unsuspecting individuals.
Have you or someone you know ever encountered a suspicious offer while travelling? Share your experiences in the comments below to help others avoid falling into similar traps.
The excitement of gifting souvenirs and sharing stories of your travels with your loved ones makes travellers giddy.
However, in a tale akin to a thriller novel, a grandfather's homecoming turned into a nightmare that could see him spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Barry James Calverley, a 68-year-old mining consultant, was allegedly promised $11 million to carry a 'little gift' from Laos to Australia.
What appeared to be a simple task entangled him in the dark world of international drug trafficking.
In an unexpected turn of events, Barry James Calverley faced the Australian Border Force due to heroin in one of his bags. Image Credit: Pexels/Kindel Media
Upon his arrival at Sydney Airport, Australian Border Force officers found around five kilograms of heroin, with an estimated street value of $2.25 million.
This discovery pushed Calverley into the centre of a legal storm, with charges of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug hanging over his head.
Calverley's ordeal began with a WhatsApp message that instructed him to travel to Laos and meet a man named 'Privham' to collect documents and a Vietnamese-brand camping chair.
Despite his suspicions, Calverley proceeded with the task, unaware that the camping chair bag he was transporting carried lines of heroin.
‘This is a classic case of a senior man being duped,’ Calverley’s legal aid lawyers came to his defence.
They argued that a seasoned drug importer would never carry documents that promised such a large sum of money as Calverley did.
‘The materials support him believing he had a reason to be going to Laos thinking he's going to get this very large sum of money and then carrying these documents that…any well-planned importer wouldn't even think about having. They make a nonsense of the whole arrangement. Sadly he has succumbed to this belief and if not granted bail, is at great risk in the prison system,’ they followed up.
The case raised questions about criminal organisations going to lengths to harm citizens, especially seniors.
Calverley has a 30-year history as a safety officer in the oil, gas, and resources industry.
Now, he found himself in the harsh environment of maximum security Macquarie prison near Dubbo, NSW.
As he struggles with the realities of prison life, Calverley also has several medical concerns, including cardiac issues, dermatitis, and psoriasis deemed untreatable in a prison facility.
His request for bail was denied by Magistrate Mark Whelan and left him to wait for his trial in custody.
The Australian Federal Police stated that the quantity of heroin found could have resulted in 25,000 street deals, citing the severity of the charges against him.
This distressing situation serves as a critical reminder for travelling seniors.
Be cautious when travelling, and always be wary of strangers offering money for seemingly simple tasks.
It's essential to stay informed about the risks of international travel and to be aware of the tactics used by criminals to exploit unsuspecting individuals.
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SMH
good one
