Sydney cocaine arrest a blow to SA family

The family of Johannesburg businessman Paul Finlayson say news of his arrest in Australia for alleged cocaine smuggling "was like being hit in the stomach with a bat".

The 45-year-old Edenvale resident was arrested in Sydney in April while allegedly collecting 70kg of cocaine hidden inside the base of a furniture packaging container. The drugs were divided into 68 blocks.

This followed a sting operation after Australian police were alerted to the drugs inside the container, which was shipped from SA.

Two months after his arrest, 384kg of cocaine was found by Sydney police hidden inside an excavator, also shipped from SA. Australian citizens Adam Hunter, 33, and Timothy Engstrom, 34, were arrested after police stormed a warehouse.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the consignment Finlayson was arrested for was delivered to a commercial factory site, addressed to Prima Bella Australia.

Prima Bella director Giovanni di Bella said Finlayson had never worked for the company.

"He misused our family business name. For what purpose we do not know," he said.

Finlayson's cousin, Rob Finlayson, said his family has had very little contact with Paul since his arrest. "We are completely in the dark."

Australian Federal Police spokes-

person Andrew Gordon said Finlayson, Hunter and Engstrom were linked to different drug-smuggling syndicates.

He confirmed that Finlayson had not applied for bail.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha said they could not comment on specifics about the case, except that they were working with their counterparts from Australia and South America, which is where the cocaine originates.

Finlayson's Edenvale neighbour Justina João described Finlayson as a "quiet gentleman".

"He was always polite. We would greet when we saw each other in the garden."

He said since Finlayson's arrest a stream of people had come to the house.

"Usually it was quiet here, but people are constantly in and out of the property. Someone collected a blue Audi that was parked here. They might be police, but we don't know as they all wear civilian clothing."

He said Finlayson had travelled frequently to Australia since 2016.

"He told me he was starting a business in Australia to make money so he could pay for his three daughters' school fees."

Another neighbour, former school friend Jude Hitchings, said as far as she was aware Finlayson was involved in the furniture business and did work in Australia.

"He is really a nice person. I'm heartbroken he's not here. I keep on expecting to see him."