Scottish couple refused bail by Sydney court over ketamine seizure

27 Aug 2026 • 9:14 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Scottish couple refused bail by Sydney court over ketamine seizure

A Scottish couple have appeared in court in Sydney after they were arrested over a seizure of 107kg of ketamine in the Australian city.

Demi McDaid, 23, and her partner Jack Farrelly, 30, were arrested at the end of June at a hotel in north Sydney.

A car containing 105kg of the drug was found in the hotel car park.

Mobile phones, 2,000 Australian dollars in cash, and documents police will allege were drug ledgers were also seized at the hotel.

Detectives had earlier found 2kg of ketamine at a short-term stay unit in Artarmon, along with scales, gloves and other paraphernalia.

Image from: Scottish couple refused bail by Sydney court over ketamine seizure

News South Wales Police said McDaid and Farrelly, who are from Edinburgh, have been charged with the supply of a prohibited drug.

They appeared at Downing Centre and District Court on Tuesday, where bail was refused.

Police will claim they travelled to Australia “for the sole purpose of taking part in the distribution and supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs”.

It is understood they will appear in court again within the next two months.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting two British nationals detained in Australia and are in contact with the local authorities.”

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