An ex-airline employee is "ashamed and disgusted" over his decision to help his brother move a package of cocaine and methamphetamine to avoid airport customs.
Jonathan Klein was caught at Sydney Airport in July 2012, carrying the package to his car.
Sydney's Downing District Court heard on Friday that Klein's brother and another man sourced the drugs, packaged them in Hong Kong and accompanied the drugs to Sydney.
Klein removed the drugs package from a security area at the airport and then, armed with his security clearance, used a route to avoid the scrutiny of customs.
"He did not avoid the scrutiny of the Australian Federal Police," his barrister Phillip Boulten, SC, said during Klein's sentencing hearing.
"He was caught red-handed essentially with drugs in his possession."
At the time of his arrest, the AFP said it found about one kilogram of methamphetamine and five kilograms of cocaine.
Klein, in his late 30s, later pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine and importing a marketable quantity of cocaine.
Mr Boulten said Klein knew there was a commercial quantity of drugs in the package but there was no reason to believe he would play a role in the distribution.
Nevertheless, Klein had an important job to play and he played it, the court heard.
Mr Boulten said his client was "disgusted, ashamed and entirely regretful".
"It's extraordinary a young man who had achieved so much from very modest circumstances can be in this position," he said.
The crown argued Klein's sentence needed to send a message to other airport staff about the consequences of abusing security clearances.
Klein, who appeared close to tears as issues about his childhood were brought up in court, will be sentenced later this month.
The cases of the two other men arrested over the drug haul are still before the court.
Share
