AN ALLEGED drug smuggler swallowed heroin with a street value of $135,000 before he was caught at Perth Airport, police said today.
The 55-year-old French national allegedly imported about 270g of heroin wrapped in five pellets concealed inside his body.
Australian Border Force officers selected the man for further examination after he flew into Perth on a flight from Bangkok about 7.20am on Thursday.
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READ NOWNothing illegal was found in his luggage but swabs taken of his mobile phone allegedly revealed traces of LSD.
The man was asked to take a non-medical body scan, which police said “returned a positive indication of internal concealment”.
He was referred to Australian Federal Police for an internal examination and was taken by ambulance to hospital, where it will be alleged he passed five pellets.
The total weight of the five pellets was approximately 270g and indicative testing returned positive results for heroin. Further forensic testing of the seized drugs is ongoing.
The estimated street value of 270g of heroin in WA is $135,000 and the equivalent of an estimated 1,350 street deals.
The man, who lives in Thailand, had claimed he was coming to Australia for a holiday.
He was due to face Perth Magistrates’ Court on Friday, charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of heroin.
ABF Regional Commander for WA James Copeman said ABF officers were fully aware of the wide variety of methods drug smugglers will go to in the attempt to bring harmful illicit drugs into Australia.
“Our officers have the technology, skills and ability to detect and disrupt the importation of illicit drugs no matter how they are concealed,” Commander Copeman added.
“Those that try to do so via internal concealment not only risk lengthy jail time but are gambling with their own lives.
“The ABF is committed to working with our Federal and State law enforcement partners protect the Australian community.”
AFP Commander Western John Tanti says law enforcement collaboration is vital for combating all levels of the illicit drug trade and preventing criminals from profiting from their harmful acts.
“Smuggling drugs internally is idiotic – there is the real risk that stomach acid will eat through the wrapping of the drugs and lead to a fatal drug overdose,” he said.
“These drug couriers are not just risking their own lives, they negatively impact the wider community by supplying these narcotics.
“These drugs aren’t transported hygienically and heroin certainly isn’t produced in sterile conditions – anyone who uses these drugs doesn’t really know what they’re ingesting.”
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