The Australian Federal Police and Border Force have stopped more than 100kg of illicit drugs from being smuggled into the country.
Two women, a 21-year-old from New South Wales and 23-year-old from New Zealander, are accused of trying to smuggle 52kg of methamphetamine into Sydney Airport on board a flight from Singapore on Monday.
The drugs were allegedly concealed in 52 packages labelled Chinese tea, with every box containing one kilogram of the substance.
In a separate incident, just a day later at Melbourne Airport, Border Force found 12 blocks of a substance alleged to be cocaine weighing 26kg, wrapped in carbon paper in a passenger’s suitcase.
Two British women were arrested after touching down on a flight from Mexico.
A 20-year-old was released while the other woman, aged 33, was charged with importing and possessing a commercial quantity of the drug.
The maximum penalty for both offences is life in prison.
In a third unrelated arrest, a UK-Northern Ireland dual national, 38, was charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle about 25kg of methamphetamine into Australia from Thailand.
All up in just 24 hours, 77kg of methamphetamine and 26kg of cocaine were seized.
The quantity equates to 900,000 street deals worth more than $80 million.
AFP Superintendent Morgen Blunden said the arrests should serve as a warning that drug mules were in their sights.
“These arrests should send a strong warning to drug couriers attempting to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia – no matter how you try to move your drugs, the AFP, together with our colleagues at ABF, will be waiting for you,” he said.
