Photo: eglobaltravelmedia.com.au

On Saturday, 8 October 2016 Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Sydney International Airport selected the female passenger for a baggage examination after she arrived on a flight from Chile.

During their examination, officers found a crystalline substance hidden in the lining of her suitcase. Initial testing of the substance returned a positive result for cocaine.

The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who later charged the woman with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to subsection 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The maximum plenty for this offence is life imprisonment.

Australian Border Force Regional Commander NSW, Tim Fitzgerald, said this seizure is yet another example of the good work carried out by our officers every day at airports across the country.

“This arrest should serve as a reminder to those who are attempting to smuggle dangerous drugs into Australia, that through specific targeting of high risk passengers you will be caught” Mr Fitzgerald said.

AFP Acting Airport Police Commander Robert Nascivera commended the ongoing efforts of the AFP and ABF to detect, deter and disrupt efforts to import illegal substances.

“Small drug imports are increasingly becoming the lifeblood of criminal groups, and the AFP is committed to working with our partner agencies to disrupt attempts to profit from the trafficking of illicit drugs,” Airport Police Commander Nascivera said.