Liliana Goodson’s ‘bizarre Google search’ before allegedly smuggling 24-karat gold pistol in her flight luggage

An American backpacker allegedly landed at Australia’s busiest international airport with a 24-carat gold-plated firearm worth $2,000 in her luggage and searched on Google for “can i have a gun in my suitcase”, a court has been told.

Liliana Goodson appeared at Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday for a special hearing after pleading not guilty to two charges of intentionally importing prohibited goods, namely both firearms and ammunition.

The already heavily tattooed American entered the courthouse with a stuffed animal in her arms and with new, fresh drawings on her cheeks and chin.

The Florida woman was arrested at Sydney’s busy Kingsford Smith International Airport in April 2023 after Australian Border Force officers reportedly found the Colt 45 pistol in her luggage.

Police say they found the distinctive gun, which was unloaded, when it went through the x-ray machine in the luggage of the 29-year-old man, who had recently arrived on an international flight from Los Angeles.

In her opening statement, the prosecutor told Magistrate Susan Horan that she accused Ms Goodson of searching on Google for ‘can i have a gun in a suitcase’ and making notes on an app on her phone to a similar effect.

The court was told that Ms Goodson planned to stay in Australia for a year and that upon arrival she told ABF officers that ammunition would be coming to Australia and that further assets would be arriving from the United States.

In his brief opening statement, Ms Goodson’s lawyer told the court the “point of contention” at the hearing would be that she “never intended to import a firearm”, arguing that she had drug and mental health problems.

The hearing continues on Wednesday and Ms Goodson and members of the ABF are expected to give evidence.

There’s more to come