A man faces life in prison for finding a scanner at Melbourne airport in his suitcase
- 2 kg of heroin allegedly hidden in the lining of a suitcase
- Man, 77, arrested at Melbourne International Airport
- The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
An elderly man could spend the rest of his life behind bars after border force officials allegedly detected 2kg of illicit drugs hidden in the lining of his suitcase.
The 77-year-old New Zealand man was traveling through Melbourne International Airport on Wednesday after arriving on a flight from Thailand.
Australian Border Force officers examined the man’s luggage and allegedly detected a mysterious white powder hidden inside.
The substance was analyzed and returned a positive result for heroin.
The man was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a controlled substance at the border.
Melbourne airport scanners detected a suspicious item hidden in the man’s suitcase
He faced Melbourne Magistrates Court the same day where he was taken into custody only to reappear at a later date.
The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
It comes a day after a 38-year-old Perth man was arrested at the same airport after allegedly trying to import 3kg of methamphetamine in his luggage after arriving on a flight from Singapore.
He also faces possible life in prison after being charged with importing a commercial quantity and possession of a controlled drug at the border.
The AFP works closely with law enforcement partners to prevent illicit drugs from reaching the streets.
“Drug dealers take advantage of our community, causing drug-related crime and the associated health and social costs,” said Acting Detective Superintendent Amanda Glover.
“Every drug detection at the border keeps our community safer and ensures that drug traffickers cannot profit by taking advantage of Australians.”
Border force officers allegedly found 2kg of heroin hidden in the lining of the suitcase (pictured)
ABF Superintendent Kelly-Anne Parish added that highly-skilled officers are always on the lookout for illicit substances.
“Criminals will attempt to conceal illicit drugs in a number of ways, however no matter how many drugs are concealed, large or small, our officers have the technology and experience to find them,” he said.
“This is a good example of the real-time capabilities of our officers working at the border, 24 hours a day, to protect the Australian community from harmful drugs.
‘ABF and AFP work hard to protect the Australian community from the scourge of drugs and ensure that airports are not part of the illicit supply chain.’
