National media release
Sydney woman suspected of importing heroin
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
This is a joint media release between the AFP and Customs
A 20-year-old woman from Guildford in Sydney will face Sydney’s Central Local Court today charged with illegally importing drugs into Australia.
Customs officers at Sydney International Airport stopped the Australian citizen for questioning, when she arrived on a flight from China on Saturday morning.
They became suspicious that the woman was concealing illegal drugs internally and referred her to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The woman was taken to hospital where a scan showed she was concealing
26 packages internally. She passed these whilst in medical care over the weekend.
The AFP will allege that approximately 150 grams of an illegal substance, suspected to be heroin, was contained within packages.
Forensic testing will be carried out to confirm the exact weight and purity of the substance found.
The AFP has charged the woman with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug contrary to the 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