UPDATE: Tuesday, Aug. 11: Twartz faced court and was released on bail. He will appear in court again on 6 October.
A 91-year-old Australian man may be the oldest drug trafficker in the world, if he is convicted of smuggling cocaine.
Victor Twartz, from Sydney, has been charged with importing approximately 4.5 kilograms of cocaine from India to Australia in packets of soap on July 8.
According to a joint statement by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force, the man was stopped and had his luggage searched as he arrived at Sydney Airport. Authorities discovered 27 packages of soap which turned up positive readings for cocaine.
Twartz, a former oral surgeon, told ABC's 7:30 Report he met up with people in Dehli that he had connected with online. As he was leaving, Twartz claims he was handed a bag that his acquaintances said contained gifts for someone in Australia.
Police have warned travellers to be wary of scams and to pack their own luggage when travelling overseas, suggesting the man may have actually been the victim of fraud. "Claiming ignorance of drugs hidden inside your luggage does not automatically mean you will not face criminal charges," Acting Assistant Commissioner Buchhorn said in a statement.
"People can expect they will be charged if they knowingly bring drugs into Australia, or are reckless or wilfully blind to the fact that there could be narcotics concealed inside their luggage or items they are carrying."
Australian Border Force's New South Wales Commander, Tim Fitzgerald, also urged travellers to be fully aware of the luggage they are carrying.
"Luggage is a personal responsibility. If you've been asked to carry something on behalf of another person, be sure you know exactly what is inside," he said in a statement. "We recommend that you do not allow another person to pack your bag and do not carry luggage on behalf of another person."
Twartz faced court in Sydney on Tuesday morning. He turned up in a three-piece tweed suit and hat, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The maximum sentence for importing a commercial quantity of cocaine is life imprisonment.
91-year-old charged with importing cocaine cuts jaunty figure at court. http://t.co/UbODoXD36f pic.twitter.com/4al3wuvOf2— The Daily Telegraph (@dailytelegraph) August 11, 2015