A 63-year-old Vietnamese man and a 54-year-old Vietnamese woman have been arrested at Sydney International Airport after allegedly attempting to import approximately 18 litres of liquid methamphetamine.
On Thursday 17 August 2017, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers identified the couple arriving off a flight from Vietnam. After an X-ray of their baggage showed inconsistencies, a further examination of the baggage revealed 36 bottles labelled as sparkling water.
On closer inspection of the water bottles, ABF officers conducted presumptive testing which gave a positive result for Methamphetamine, the drug commonly known as ice.
The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) who arrested the couple and charged them with importing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The couple were scheduled to appear in Central Local Court today (18 August).
ABF Acting Regional Commander, NSW Tony McSweeney, said the seizure was another example of the ABFs ability to prevent illicit drugs from being smuggled into Australia through Sydney international airport.
“This is not the first time this year and I’m sure it won’t be the last where ABF officers at Sydney international airport have managed to stop a large quantity of illicit drugs reaching the streets of New South Wales.”
AFP Acting Sydney Airport Police Commander, Simone O’Mahony, said AFP members at airports are continually surprised at the lengths people will go to import illicit substances into Australia.
“What they don’t realise is these attempts to smuggle in illicit substances can and do come to the attention of law enforcement, and we are ready to apply the full force of the law in response,” Detective Acting Superintendent O’Mahony said.
The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.