National media release
Two arrested in Darwin heroin seizure
Thursday, 17 July 2008
This is a joint Australian Federal Police and Customs Media Release
A 60-year-old Australian man and 50 year-old Australian woman will face Darwin Magistrates Court today, charged with importing heroin into Australia.
Customs officers at Darwin International Airport stopped the man and woman for a baggage examination when they arrived on a flight from Singapore via Vietnam yesterday (Wednesday).
During questioning, officers became suspicious that both people may have been concealing drugs internally.
The man and woman were referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and taken to hospital for a medical examination.
It will be alleged in court that a total of three packages containing approximately 300 grams of a powder believed to be heroin were removed from the man’s body. An additional four packages containing approximately 400g of powder were removed from the woman’s body.
The packages will be the subject of forensic testing to determine the exact weight and purity of the drugs.
The AFP has charged both people with the importation of a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug under Section 307.2 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.
Media enquiries:
AFP Media (Canberra): (02) 6275 7100