The mystery 'disappearance' of an estate agent who boarded a plane to Australia almost three years ago and was never seen again has been 'solved' after it emerged he is in prison for being a drug mule.
Patryk Gwardys, 37, from Vancouver, Canada, was earning around $150,000 (£116,00) selling properties before he hopped on a plane having swallowed 98 latex covered pellets.
When he arrived at Sydney International Airport with a belly full of cocaine on December 1, 2016 he was examined by border force who found traces of the drug on his carry-on luggae.
Gwardys claimed it may have come into contact with people who were using cocaine at parties that he had attended in the past.
However a body scan revealed he was concealing cocaine and he was arrested.
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In total the pellets contained 477.7 grams of cocaine with a pure weight of 391.7 grams. The purity level was about 82 per cent.
Police also discovered he had made 10 visits to Australia since 2008 which he said was to visit family and friends.
Gwardys claimed he had been approached by individuals, who had sold him drugs in the past, with an offer for him to import the cocaine.
He said that he believed that he was taking about half a pound of cocaine but it transpired he took around double that amount.
He was promised around four ounces and $20,000.
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He initially agreed, but when he changed his mind was confronted with threats and so went through the drug transportation.
A court document stated: "The applicant went on to say that there was no specific mention of what kind of harm might come to him, but that he understood that it would be in the form of violent assaults, such as bashings or stabbings."
Months earlier his marriage had broken down which saw him turn to drugs and alcohol, court records show. His mental health also spiralled.
"The offender described the break-up as traumatic and said that his behaviour changed," the ruling said.
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"He worked only about one day a week, ignoring his clients and his work in general. He was drinking on a daily basis and then started using cocaine on a regular basis at the cost of about $100 a day, He said that he was in debt.
"He said that after his wife left he was depressed and withdrew from his family and friends, engaging in cocaine and drinking."
Gwardys is eligible for parole in 2020. He will likely be deported to Canada shortly after.
