54-year-old South African Woman to Appear in Court, Charged with Importing Cocaine Into Australia in Her Shoes

A 54-year-old South African woman is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court this morning, charged with importing cocaine into Australia in her shoes.

The woman was stopped by Customs officers when she arrived at Sydney Airport on a flight from Johannesburg.

During questioning officers became suspicious about the weight of footwear she was wearing and carrying in her baggage.

Officers drilled one of the shoes and located a white powder. Initial testing indicated the presence of cocaine.

The woman was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The AFP will allege in court that the shoes, three pairs of sandals, and a folder being carried by the woman, contained approximately 3.9 kilograms of powder, believed to be cocaine.

The white powder will undergo forensic testing to determine its exact nature, weight and purity.

The woman was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug, contrary to the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The maximum penalty for this offense is 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.

Source: AFP

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