British couple in Australia face 15 years behind bars if convicted after police find £5.7million of ketamine in boot of rental car

By CLAIRE ELLIOT, SCOTTISH GENERAL NEWS REPORTER and TOM LAWRENCE, NEWS REPORTER Published: 07:45, 28 July 2026 | Updated: 07:57, 28 July 2026 A British couple is facing 15 years in an Australian prison after police seized more than £5million of drugs stashed in the boot of their hire car. Mother-of-two Demi McDaid, 23, and boyfriend Jack Farrelly, 30, were arrested by officers during an investigation in Sydney. Some 107kg (236lb) of prohibited drugs – thought to be ketamine – were seized in the raid.  According to local media, officers initially searched an apartment alleged to have been rented as a short-term stay by the couple following a tip-off from suspicious neighbours. Two kilograms (4.4lb) of drugs, as well as scales, disposable gloves and clear resealable bags with white crystallised residue, were found inside. The 'tourists' were tracked down to a hotel three days later where 107kg of drugs, with a street value of £5.7million, were seized from a hire car. Images show the drugs stashed in luggage and shopping bags in the boot of the vehicle.  Mobile phones, more than £1,000 in cash and documents police allege were drug ledgers were found in the hotel room. Demi McDaid, 23, and boyfriend Jack Farrelly, 30, were arrested in Sydney, Australia  Around 100kg worth of a white substance, believed to be ketamine, was seized by police The drugs were stashed in luggage and shopping bags in the boot of a hire car Neighbours gave a tip-off to police after becoming suspicious about the couple's behaviour New South Wales Police allege that the couple came to the country with 'the sole purpose of taking part in the distribution and supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs'. Detective Acting Inspector Alison Dixon, of North Shore Police Area Command, said that drug syndicates were relying on the high turnover of temporary accommodation rentals to fly under the radar. She added: 'We have seen this before and encourage property owners to be wary. 'People staying in hotels and Airbnbs, we see a lot of illegal activities come and go through those places.' Neighbours in the suburb of Artarmon alerted police that the Edinburgh couple were not behaving like traditional tourists. They became suspicious that there was no traditional luggage inside their holiday rental.  It is believed that items left by the couple at the apartment helped officers trace them to the hotel where they were arrested at the end of last month. McDaid and Farrelly appeared at Sydney's Manly Local Court on June 30 and were refused bail, meaning they will remain behind bars until they appear at Downing Centre Local Court on August 26. Police will allege the pair flew to Australia with no local ties, using their 'fresh faces' and temporary bases to avoid detection. The force believes the pair travelled to the country with the sole purpose of taking part in the distribution and supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs. A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting two British nationals detained in Australia and are in contact with local authorities.' The pair posed for a date night photo in an Australian restaurant just weeks before they were arrested for the alleged drug trafficking. McDaid updated the picture on social media with the caption 'my love always'.  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.