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30 December 2019, 6:15pm
Media Release

Portuguese woman charged over cocaine importation

A 42-year-old Portuguese national has been charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with importing cocaine, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Perth Airport allegedly located several kilograms of the drug concealed inside bottles of toiletries in her baggage.

The woman arrived on a flight from Doha last night (Sunday, 29 December) and was questioned by an ABF Border Clearance officer before being sent for a full baggage examination.

It is alleged, six plastic bottles of toiletry products inside her suitcase returned positive readings for cocaine.

The total weight for the bottles was just under five kilograms, however the exact weight of the cocaine is yet to be determined.

The woman’s Tourist Visa was cancelled and she was arrested by AFP officers and charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.

She was due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court today (30 December 2019).

 

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