Authorities seize $80 million worth of drugs in two airports

Airports are the gateways to discovering Australia—may it be the wild nature or the bustling city streets.

Yet, it can also be an entry point for suspicious individuals and activities.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) have been committed to keeping our borders secure, but several incidents raised questions about airport safety and security in the country.


In a series of events that unfolded at two separate airports, authorities seized over $80 million worth of illicit substances.

Sydney Airport authorities caught two women accused of attempting to smuggle 52 kg of methamphetamine.

The drugs, carried by a 21-year-old NSW local and a 23-year-old from New Zealand, were concealed in packages labelled as Chinese tea.

Each box of Chinese tea contained one kilogram of the said substance.


compressed-Sydney Airport.jpeg
The AFP and the ABF have teamed up to prevent smugglers from importing illegal items in the country. Image Credit: Shutterstock/
ChameleonsEye


A day after the Sydney Airport arrest, Melbourne Airport Border Force officers discovered 12 blocks of cocaine.

The blocks weighed about 26 kg in total and were concealed in carbon paper inside a suitcase.

Two British women travelling from Mexico—ages 20 and 33—were arrested.

While a 20-year-old was released, her 33-year-old companion faced charges of importing and possessing a commercial quantity of the drug.


In a third, unrelated arrest, a 38-year-old dual national was charged for attempting to smuggle 25 kg of methamphetamine from Thailand to Australia.

These series of arrests underscored the global nature of drug trafficking and the lengths smugglers will go to just to transport illegal substances.

Within 24 hours, the AFP and ABF seized about 77 kg of methamphetamine and 26 kg of cocaine.

The seized drugs could be sold in around 900,000 street deals.
'These arrests should send a strong warning to drug couriers attempting to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia,' AFP Superintendent Morgen Blunden warned.

'No matter how you try to move your drugs, the AFP, together with our colleagues at ABF, will be waiting for you.'


These arrests should be a stark reminder that the Australian authorities are constantly on alert.

It's natural to wonder about airport safety and whether these incidents indicate a broader issue.

However, it's also reassuring to see law enforcement agencies protecting locals and preventing dangerous substances from entering the country.

While these busts are significant, they represent only a fraction of the ongoing battle against drug smuggling.
Key Takeaways

  • The Australian Federal Police and Border Force seized over 100kg of illicit drugs in separate airport incidents.
  • Two women were accused of smuggling 52 kg of methamphetamine labelled as Chinese tea into the Sydney Airport.
  • A 33-year-old British woman was charged with importing and possessing a commercial quantity of cocaine after authorities found 26 kg of cocaine at the Melbourne Airport.
  • In total, authorities prevented the distribution of drugs, equating to 900,000 street deals and about $80 million in value.
What are your thoughts about this issue? Let us know in the comments section below.
 
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Thankfully our Border Force work hand in glove with other country's Police Drug Squads that help them catch perpetrators sending large quantities of drugs to Australia....but let's not kid ourselves that a heck of a lot still enters the country via means unknown to our Border Force operatives. It's still a battle for our Border Force everyday, but credit given where and when credit is due.....Well done Border Force, keep up the good work.
 
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