Kiwi a 'vital cog' in Australian drug ring

Neil Mark Robinson was offered $100,000 to carry four kilos of cocaine from Brazil to Australia. Photo / Thinkstock

A New Zealand concreter accused of smuggling $3 million worth of cocaine into the Gold Coast is far from a lowly pawn, a court has been told.

Neil Mark Robinson, 27, was offered $100,000 to carry four kilos of cocaine from Brazil to Australia, Southport Magistrates Court was told on Monday.

Commonwealth prosecutor Justin Williams strongly opposed Robinson's bail application, claiming that if the drugs, as suspected, were 80 per cent pure they would be worth $3.3 million.

Mr Williams said packets of cocaine were found in three suitcases at Coolangatta International Airport on February 11 after Robinson and his girlfriend flew in from Auckland.

He said Robinson, a concreter working in Victoria, admitted to police the suitcases and the drugs were his, and now faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

His girlfriend has not been implicated in the case.

Defence barrister Chris Rosser argued his client was not a member of a drug ring, just a lowly courier.

However, Magistrate Brian Kilmartin said Robinson was a "vital cog in the wheel of a drug ring", which could not operate without couriers.

He also dismissed arguments Robinson would not be an unacceptable flight risk.

"Those to whom he hasn't delivered the product would be less than impressed and he would have every reason to flee," Mr Kilmartin said.

Mr Rosser requested his client be assessed for treatment for any weakness he had, to which the magistrate asked, "Would greed be one of those?"

Mr Williams said Robinson, who was offered a "business opportunity" to ferry the drugs to Australia, knew the weight of evidence against him and was aware he faced a substantial prison sentence.

"The maximum penalty is life in prison and if he does flee it would be very difficult for him to be brought back to Australia," Mr Williams said.

Mr Kilmartin refused bail and remanded Robinson to reappear on March 13.

- AAP