Barry James Calverley Claims Innocence After Being Stopped at Sydney Airport in January 2024

A 70-year-old man from Perth has been sentenced to at least four and a half years in prison for attempting to smuggle heroin into Australia hidden inside a fold-out camping bed.

Barry James Calverley was intercepted at Sydney International Airport in January 2024 after arriving from Laos via Vietnam. Authorities discovered 48 packages of white powder concealed in the metal frame of the camping bed he was carrying, which tested positive for heroin and amounted to approximately 2.6 kilograms.

During his initial interview with authorities, Calverley maintained his innocence, stating, “I’m innocent — I had no idea what was in the bag,” and requested to speak privately with Australian Federal Police or Border Force officials to show them evidence on his phone that he claimed would explain the situation.

At his trial in the NSW District Court, prosecutors presented evidence that Calverley had been communicating with two unidentified individuals online for several months prior to his arrest, exchanging more than 750 WhatsApp messages. The court heard that he had been promised a substantial financial reward — described in reports as up to $10 million — for transporting the bed to Australia.

The sentencing judge found that Calverley’s emotional vulnerabilities had been exploited by the false promise of enormous riches, concluding that he had been duped into acting as a drug mule despite his claims of ignorance. Although he pleaded not guilty to commercial drug importation, a jury found him guilty of the offence.

In a letter submitted to the court, Calverley expressed regret for his actions, describing them as stupid and saying he deeply regretted becoming involved in the scheme.

The case highlights the methods used by drug syndicates to target vulnerable individuals, using elaborate online ruses and false promises of wealth to recruit unwitting couriers for international smuggling operations.