Two alleged drug couriers arrested at Australian airports

Two people have been arrested in Sydney and Melbourne for the importation of narcotics concealed within their bodies.

The two unrelated cases saw the Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrest a

26-year-old Malaysian woman at Sydney International Airport on Saturday morning and later that same day, a 49-year-old Australian man was arrested in Melbourne.

The 26-year-old Malaysian woman was stopped by Sydney Customs and Border Protection officers when she arrived on a flight from Phuket, Thailand.

During baggage examinations officers became suspicious that the woman may have been concealing drugs internally. She was referred to the AFP and taken to hospital for a medical examination.

It will be alleged in court that she had concealed internally 25 packages containing a white powdered substance, which presumptive testing indicated was heroin. The woman was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 and will appear in Sydney Central Local Court today.

On Saturday at Melbourne International Airport, a 49-year-old man from Lalor was questioned by Customs and Border Protection officers after he arrived on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City. While being questioned officers became suspicious that he may have been concealing drugs internally and he was referred to the AFP.

It is alleged that the male passenger was concealing internally two packages containing a white powder substance which presumptively tested positive for heroin. The male was remanded in custody and is due to reappear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on 15 September 2009.

Further forensic testing will be undertaken to confirm both substances, their weight and purity.