Mining consultant faces lengthy legal battle due to 'little gift'

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.


compressed-pexels-kindelmedia-7714895.jpeg
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.
Key Takeaways

  • Safety officer Barry Calverley allegedly imported a commercial quantity of heroin into Australia concealed in a camping chair bag.
  • Calverley was promised $11 million for transporting documents from Laos but claimed he was 'duped' into carrying the drugs.
  • His lawyers argued that he was suspicious of the 'little gift' and said it is a classic case of an elderly being exploited.
  • Calverley's bail application was denied, and may face a life sentence if convicted of the drug importation charges.
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.
 
Sponsored
Sadly, I am in total agreement with all comments here. There is no way that he was duped. Anybody with even a smattering of intelligence would know that nobody would pay an unknown individual $11 million to pick up some documents and a camping chair. He deserves jail time, if not for being a drug mule then for being an absolute idiot. Also gobsmacked at the legal aid reasoning for him not being incarcerated, ie eczema and psoriasis. 🤨 SMH
 
  • Like
Reactions: Littleboy8
The only time I bought something into the country was given to me by a Malaysian Customs officer friend of mine. the items involved were four one kilo packs of spice a beef, chicken. lamb and fish spices while he was waiting for his normal shipment. Had all the relevant paperwork for Oz customs, Had some fantastic samosas when his cousin came to pick up the spices unfortunately his restaurant was too far on the other side of Melbourne.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Littleboy8
What a stupid dumb man.
Even if he was offered a very low ammount it would still be suspicious.

He deserves everything he gets.

Laos is one of the drug capitals of the world.

There are signs everywhere warning people not to carry anything for other people.

He must have a sign tattooed on his forehead saying ' I'm a dumb ass'
🤣🤣🤣🤣👍good one
 
Fat slob probably wanted the money to buy more food to stuff into his big fat gut🤣
 
I just came here for the comments…….They didn’t disappoint…….and I’m still flabbergasted….It’s incredulous …..$11 million to deliver a small gift 🙆‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️:oops:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Littleboy8
Also this.....
This is a classic case of a senior man being duped,’ Calverley’s legal aid lawyers came to his defence.
Rubbish. Nothing classic about this one.

The guy has a responsible job so he's not stupid. Just had his story already worked out in the event he got caught. which he did. How even the dumbest person could begin to believe an offer of $11m is just breathtaking.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Littleboy8

Join the conversation

News, deals, games, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.

Seniors Discount Club

The SDC searches for the best deals, discounts, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.
  1. New members
  2. Jokes & fun
  3. Photography
  4. Nostalgia / Yesterday's Australia
  5. Food and Lifestyle
  6. Money Saving Hacks
  7. Offtopic / Everything else

Latest Articles

  • We believe that retirement should be a time to relax and enjoy life, not worry about money. That's why we're here to help our members make the most of their retirement years. If you're over 60 and looking for ways to save money, connect with others, and have a laugh, we’d love to have you aboard.
  • Advertise with us

User Menu

Enjoyed Reading our Story?

  • Share this forum to your loved ones.
Change Weather Postcode×
Change Petrol Postcode×