A Brazilian man has been sentenced after he tried to bring 3.4kg of cocaine worth $1.5m into the country in a hidden compartment in his suitcase.
Joao Marcelo Albanez, 39, was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison today after trying to get the drug through Auckland Airport.
Albanez came to the attention of customs officers carrying out pre-screening, before he arrived into New Zealand from Chile on 28 November 2017.
An x-ray of his suitcase showed inconsistencies, and a search located a black plastic package of cocaine in a hidden compartment behind the suitcase base.
![The cocaine, worth $1.5m, was tucked away inside a hidden compartment of the man's suitcase. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/L32VGY5RWERPSDN7HV6ZI3VZGQ.jpg?auth=0c6e006b0fb9bcf70e44073095b1849d1c3623d6c51b1adc6d212ec45357c4fc&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)