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.
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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.
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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.
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