Vietnamese National Charged for Importing Heroin Into Australia
A 65-year-old Vietnamese national was scheduled to appear, at the weekend, in Parramatta Local Court charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with allegedly importing approximately four kilograms of heroin into Australia.
Quick thinking Australian Customs and Border Protection officers selected the man for a baggage examination when he arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Vietnam.
During a search of the man’s bags, Customs and Border Protection officers located a white compressed powder which presumptively tested positive for heroin.
The man was then referred to the AFP and charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The maximum penalty for this offence is an $825,000 fine and/or life imprisonment.
Customs and Border Protection National Manager Airport Operations North Craig Sommerville said that this arrest served as a warning to others considering attempting to breach Australia’s borders.
"Our officers are highly skilled at assessing passengers. If you try to smuggle in illegal substances you run a high risk of being caught and charged," Mr Sommerville said.
Further forensic testing will be undertaken to confirm the exact weight and purity of the substance.
Source: AFP
Net News Publisher for Australian News
Category: Oceania
