Kiwi charged after 52kg of meth allegedly found at Sydney Airport

October 31, 2024
The pair were allegedly caught attempting to smuggle 52kg of methamphetamine into Australia on board a flight from Singapore.

A New Zealand woman is one of four people who have been charged after 103kg of illicit drugs were seized across Melbourne and Sydney airports within 24 hours.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested a New South Wales woman, 21, and a New Zealand woman, 23, at Sydney Airport on Monday.

The pair were allegedly caught attempting to smuggle 52kg of methamphetamine into Australia on board a flight from Singapore.

Border patrol officers conducted a routine baggage examination in which 52 packages labelled as Chinese tea were detected.

"It will be alleged that presumptive testing of the substance indicated a positive result for methamphetamine," said an AFP spokesperson.

Both women were charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court on October 29.

Two United Kingdom women, aged 20 and 33, were detained at Melbourne Airport on Tuesday after 26kg of cocaine was allegedly detected concealed in a suitcase on a flight from Mexico.

In a second unrelated incident, two United Kingdom women, aged 20 and 33, were detained at Melbourne Airport on Tuesday after 26kg of cocaine was allegedly detected concealed in a suitcase on a flight from Mexico.

Twelve blocks of a white substance were located wrapped in carbon paper by border patrol and it will be alleged that initial testing returned a positive result for cocaine.

Officers charged the 33-year-old woman with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and possessing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

A UK-Northern Ireland dual national, 38, was charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle around 25kg of methamphetamine into Australia from Thailand.

In a third unrelated incident, a UK-Northern Ireland dual national aged 38 was charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle around 25kg of meth into Australia from Thailand.

Border patrol officers located 25 packages, each containing 1kg of white powder, upon searching the man's suitcase and bag on Tuesday.

"Preliminary testing returned a positive result for methamphetamine," said an AFP spokesperson.

The man was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

In total, 77kg of methamphetamine and 26kg of cocaine was seized.

The quantity equates to around 900,000 street deals with a value of more than A$80m (NZ$88m), according to the AFP.

AFP Superintendent Morgen Blunden said the arrests should serve as a warning that drug mules were in their sights.

"These arrests should send a strong warning to drug couriers attempting to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia – no matter how you try to move your drugs, the AFP, together with our colleagues at ABF, will be waiting for you."

SHARE ME

More Stories