U.S. Sailors Arrested for Smuggling

The Australian:

TWO American sailors and a Canadian national have been arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into Australia aboard a US Navy ship.

The three men were arrested in northern Queensland north overnight after the discovery of 11kg of amphetamines disguised as gift-wrapped packages, an Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokeswoman said.

Police arrested an American, 36, and the Canadian, 34, who lives on the Gold Coast, at a highway service station about 20km south of Townsville last night, the spokeswoman said.

The pair were allegedly in possession of the drugs.

The other American, 39, was arrested at a Townsville hotel after an AFP search of his room allegedly yielded $US10,000 ($13,070) in cash.

The American sailors are attached to the USS Boxer (LHD-4), an amphibious assault ship. The U.S. Navy is scheduled to participate in exercises with the Australian Navy next week.


USS Boxer (LHD-4)
The U.S. sailors appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court earlier today and were charged with attempting to import contraband. They were remanded to custody. There have been reports that the U.S. Navy will conduct an internal review and have pledged to discharge the two sailors.

The Canadian will appear in court tomorrow.