National media release
Twelfth person faces internal drug smuggling charge
Monday, 25 February 2008
A 25-year-old Dutch national has become the 12th person to be charged this year with smuggling drugs into Australia by concealing them internally.
The man, who lives in South Africa, was stopped for questioning by Customs officers at Sydney International Airport after arriving on a flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, 21 February.
After becoming suspicious that he was carrying drugs, Customs officers handed him over to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
It is alleged that after being taken to hospital the man passed 80 pellets containing what is suspected to be 320 grams of heroin.
The AFP have charged him with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug contrary to the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The man is due to appear in Sydney’s Central Local Court later today.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment.
Media enquiries:
AFP Media (Canberra): (02) 6275 7100