Sydney, Australia, Thursday, January 31, 2008

Man facing life sentence over $45m ecstasy import

A SYDNEY court has heard that the case of an Israeli man who imported up to $45 million worth of ecstasy into Australia is one of the worst of its kind.

Benjamin Rosenfeld is facing a maximum penalty of life in jail after customs officers in Sydney found more than 170 tennis ball canisters hidden inside hot water tanks in a shipment from Israel last year.

Inside was more than 100 kilograms of raw ecstasy with a street value of up to $45 million.

Rosenfeld was found guilty of importing the drug and is facing sentencing submissions at the district court. The crown prosecutor said Rosenfeld was the only one involved in the operation which he described as at, or approaching the worse type of case of drug importation.

But the defence lawyer said there was evidence it was not a a single-handed operation and Rosenfeld had allowed his legitimate business to be used in the scheme..