Sydney, March 25 – Australian police have charged a man with allegedly attempting to smuggle 20 kg of heroin into the country from Thailand.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Wednesday that the 26-year-old man from the state of New South Wales was selected for baggage examination upon arrival at Sydney Airport on a flight from Bangkok on January 24.
During the examination, ABF officers discovered 34 vacuum-sealed bags containing a total of 20 kg of heroin.
According to authorities, the heroin had an estimated value of 10 million Australian dollars ($7 million) and could have been used to supply approximately 100,000 street deals.
The case was then handed over to AFP officers, who arrested the 26-year-old and charged him with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a drug controlled at the border, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said that the attempted importation highlights the determination of organized crime groups to exploit international travel routes for profit, Xinhua news agency reported.
Earlier on December 8, Australian authorities had charged a New Zealander after 21 kg of heroin was found hidden in luggage at Sydney Airport.
The AFP and ABF had said in a joint statement that the 21-year-old man from New Zealand had been selected for baggage examination upon arrival at Sydney Airport on a flight from Thailand.
During the examination, ABF officers had allegedly discovered 21 vacuum-sealed bags containing a white powdered substance. Subsequent testing confirmed the presence of heroin, which had an estimated total weight of 21 kg.
AFP officers had seized the packages and charged the man with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a drug controlled at the border. At the time, authorities noted that if convicted, he faced a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
According to authorities, the seized volume of heroin had an estimated value of over 10 million Australian dollars ($6.6 million) and could have been used to supply approximately 100,000 street-level deals.