A 21-year-old New Zealand national has been charged after allegedly attempting to smuggle 21kg of heroin concealed in his luggage through Sydney Airport.
The man arrived in Sydney on December 7 aboard an international flight from Thailand, where he was selected by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers for a routine baggage examination. During the inspection, officers searched two suitcases belonging to him and allegedly discovered 21 floral-patterned, vacuum-sealed bags containing a white powdery substance.
Presumptive testing later returned a positive result for heroin, with the total estimated weight of the seized narcotics at 21kg. "This amount of heroin, had it reached the Australian community, has an estimated street value of more than $10 million, with the potential for about 100,000 street-level deals," said AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Aaron Burgess, as reported by 1News.
The man was arrested at the airport and charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, namely heroin. The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. He is expected to appear in the NSW Bail Division Local Court today.
Border Force Superintendent Elke West said the detection served as a strong warning for travellers attempting to cross borders with illegal substances. "The ABF uses a sophisticated layered approach to targeting passengers at our airports for examination," West said. "This detection demonstrates that our systems, technology, intelligence sharing and human judgement all complement each other to identify high-risk travellers before they can do more harm in our communities," 1News has reported.
Burgess reiterated the firm stance of Australian authorities against drug trafficking. "Australian law enforcement is united in our efforts to intercept these drugs before they can reach and harm Australian lives, along with the devastating domino effects that flow onto our health system and economy as a result," as quoted by 1News.
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