A woman from Sydney is facing the prospect of life behind bars after authorities allegedly discovered a multi-million-pound stash of methamphetamine concealed in her luggage, with the packages brazenly labelled as 'tea'.
The Routine Check That Uncovered a Major Haul
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers selected the 40-year-old woman from Bonnyrigg for a standard examination after she landed at Sydney International Airport on Friday. What began as a routine procedure quickly escalated when officials opened her suitcase.
Inside, they allegedly found 18 vacuum-sealed bags marked with the word 'tea'. Presumptive testing, however, indicated the clear crystalline substance within was not a harmless brew but approximately 15 kilograms of methamphetamine.
A Multi-Million Pound Seizure and Serious Charges
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) swiftly seized the enormous quantity of alleged drugs, which they estimate has a street value exceeding $13 million (£6.8 million approx.). The woman was arrested at the scene.
She has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, specifically methamphetamine. This is one of the most serious drug offences under Australian law and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment upon conviction.
Police Issue Stark Warning to Travellers
AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden used the incident to deliver a powerful caution to the public on Saturday. He emphasised that this was far from a victimless crime, with the profits fuelling violence and organised crime networks.
'Individuals or groups offering money to move luggage are not to be trusted, and the reward is not worth the consequences,' Det Supt Blunden stated. 'Trafficking drugs in your luggage, either knowingly or unknowingly, is a criminal offence.'
He warned that those caught could lose the best years of their life in a prison cell, either in Australia or overseas. The senior officer also framed the seizure as a significant blow to criminal enterprises, asserting that 'Australia is not an easy target' for drug traffickers.
The accused woman was scheduled to appear in the Bail Division of the Local Court on Saturday, where the serious nature of the allegations against her will be formally addressed.
