QUEENSLAND Police have arrested a 50-year-old woman over a strawberry needle contamination that forced supermarkets across Australia to pull fruit from shelves.
The woman was taken into Queensland Police custody on Sunday after a months-long investigation involving authorities and intelligence agencies from multiple states.
She is expected to be charged and front Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday in the wake of a crisis that spread to Perth.
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READ NOWHealth officials issued warning in September after WA Police announced they were investigating 10 reports of needles found in strawberries.
Reports of needles in strawberries had spread across multiple states.
The crisis led to the State Government launching a bid to protect the strawberry industry, and unveiling a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of any ‘strawberry vandals’.
The Federal Government also stumped up $1 million for the industry and rushed through laws to see those responsible face up to 15 years behind bars.
MORE: All the places to pick strawberries around Perth this weekend