National media release
Alleged heroin smuggler nabbed at Brisbane Airport
Thursday, 13 March 2008
A 27-year-old Thai woman and a 38-year-old Nigerian man will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today after Customs and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) uncovered an alleged importation of almost1.4 kilograms of heroin into Australia.
Customs officers stopped a woman at Brisbane International Airport after she arrived on a flight from India on Sunday, 9 March.
An x-ray of the woman’s bag revealed an image consistent with a possible narcotic concealment. Customs officers subsequently drilled into the bag to discover a white powder.
Preliminary testing of the powder confirmed the presence of heroin.
The woman was arrested by the AFP and charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The man was arrested yesterday after travelling from Sydney to Brisbane.
He was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug and attempting to possess a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The maximum penalty for these offences is $550,000 and/or 25 years imprisonment.
Media enquiries:
AFP Media (Canberra): (02) 6275 7100