Four alleged international drug couriers, including the suspected ringleader of a transnational drug mule syndicate, have been arrested at Melbourne Airport after 30kg of cocaine – worth an estimated $10 million – was allegedly found in suitcases.
Three US women, aged 22, 24 and 35, allegedly each hid 10kg of the class-A drug inside clothing in their luggage on a flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne on April 12.
Australia Border Force (ABF) officers arrested the women when they got off the flight at Melbourne Airport after getting information from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), who had arrested after a fourth woman, 41, at Los Angeles International Airport before the flight.
ABF officers examined six suitcases and found multiple packages containing a white powder substance in each case.
The substance has since indicated a positive result for cocaine.
Officers then arrested and charged a 55-year-old US man at Melbourne Airport on April 16 who is accused of planning and supervising the alleged attempted drug import.
The three females have each charged with importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drug, namely cocaine, and possessing a commercial quantity of cocaine.
The man has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drug, namely cocaine, and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of cocaine.Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for these offences if found guilty is life imprisonment.
They have all faced court and been held in custody to reappear in court on August 5.
AFP Detective Superintendent Simone Butcher said the cocaine had an estimated street value of nearly $10 million if it had reached our streets.
“This had the potential to facilitate 30,000 individual street deals and cause tens of millions of dollars in harm to the Australian community,” she said.
“These arrests send a strong warning to drug couriers attempting to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia – no matter how you try and move your drugs, the AFP, together with our international, Commonwealth and state law enforcement partners will be waiting for you.”
