A western Sydney couple appeared before Downing Centre Local Court January 10, 2025 charged with allegedly importing a total of 10kg of heroin in their suitcases into Australia.
Investigations into the man, 52, and woman, 53, began after they arrived at Sydney Airport on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers selected the pair for baggage examination, which revealed abnormalities in the lining of two suitcases.
A substance in the lining of the cases returned a positive initial reading for the presence of heroin.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Dom Stephenson said the heroin had an estimated street value of $5 million and equated to about 50,000 street deals.
AFP officers charged them each with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, namely heroin.
“Illicit drugs like heroin cause significant harm to users, their loved ones, and the wider Australian community,” Detective Acting Superintendent Stephenson said. “The AFP and our partners are committed to thwarting the international drug trade and preventing our airports from being used as part of the criminal supply chain.”
The man and woman, who reside in Canley Heights, were remanded into custody and are next scheduled to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on March 12, 2025.
ABF Superintendent Elke West said the detection of the significant heroin shipment underscored her officers’ unwavering commitment to protecting the Australian community from the harms caused by illicit substances.
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