Malaysian man jailed for attempted internal heroin importation
A Malaysian national has been jailed after attempting to internally import approximately 100g of heroin into Australia through Avalon Airport.
The 39 year old man was yesterday sentenced in a Victorian Country Court online hearing to four and a half years imprisonment with a non-parole period of two and a half years.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged the man in June last year after the Australian Border Force (ABF) uncovered suspected border controlled drugs during a baggage examination following the man’s arrival on a flight from Kuala Lumpur.
During the bag-search, ABF officers identified two black wrapped pellets which returned a presumptive positive result for heroin. ABF officers then became concerned the man may be concealing further drugs internally and notified the Victorian Ambulance Service and the AFP.
Further examination of the man revealed three additional black wrapped pellets, which also tested positive for heroin.
The man was taken into custody by AFP officers and transported to hospital for further medical treatment. While in hospital, a further 13 pellets were located internally, also containing heroin.
Further forensic analysis revealed the mixed substance to contain 97.5 grams of heroin and 104.5 grams of codeine derivative acetylcodeine.
The man pled guilty to importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drugs. For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services, call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
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