An airline worker has allegedly been caught importing more than 2 lbs (1kg) of heroin into Melbourne.
The Thai national had been performing work duties on board an international flight when she arrived at Melbourne Airport on Thursday and submitted her baggage for scanning.
Australian Border Force officers identified “anomalies” as they scanned her bags, and further checks revealed “a white powder concealed within the lining” that was identified as heroin.
The total volume of the substance, about 1kg, is estimated to have a street value of $500,000.
The woman was handed over to the Australian Federal Police, who arrested her and charged her with importing and possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug.
ABF Commander Clint Sims said people would be charged “regardless of rank or position” to make sure drug importation laws were enforced.
“The ABF remains alert to the threat of trusted insiders and will continue to identify and disrupt this activity to maintain the integrity of our border and protect the Australian community,” Commander Sims said.
“ABF officers use intelligence-led targeting and a range of detection capabilities to identify those individuals who attempt to breach our border controls.”
AFP Acting Commander Simone Butcher said the AFP was hyper-aware of people who “use their employment or community standing to support drug trafficking”.
“We work closely with our partner agencies to protect the community from the scourge of illicit drugs,” he said.
