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SNOWING IN BALI

armchair, crossing his legs, telling him to take his time. But Rafael now felt he was legit and wanted to do more business, and so wouldn't be ripping him off. 'Thanks, but I'll count it at home,' he said, putting the cash into his plastic bag. They agreed to meet again in a couple of days, and Rafael left.

Two days later, it was like déjà vu. Rafael watched the Australian do precisely the same adept moves, down to snapping shut the briefcase and scrambling the locks. The one significant difference was that this time the bed was dressed with 14 bunches of cash.

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Two months after the first rendezvous, the Australian surfer phoned saying he was again ready to deal. Rafael was keen to deliver all the way to Sydney's northern beaches this time, so he'd make more than $120,000 a kilo, the highest price anywhere on the planet. This was the reward for penetrating Australia's rigorous borders -- and made it the number one global target for all drug traffickers.

A gram of cocaine in Australia costs between $200 to $500. In the United States, a gram sells for as little as $100.

- Sydney Morning Herald, 15 September 2010

A 'generational shift' has pushed demand for cocaine to unprecedented levels, giving Australia the dubious honour of being the world's most lucrative market for the illicit drug.

- Daily Telegraph, 2009

The day of the Sydney run started early. By 7 am Rafael and his Peruvian partner, Jerome, were sitting on the floor of his