Two Sydney men have been accused of importing $32 million worth of heroin in the lining of wallets, pencil cases and laptop bags into Brisbane Airport over the Australia Day long weekend.
The two men, a 27-year-old from Lethbridge and a 25-year-old from Tregear, were expected to front the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday after they were arrested following their flight from China on Monday.
An X-ray allegedly indicated anomalies within the men’s luggage, and Australian Border Force was alerted.
Officers searched the men’s bag and allegedly found blue satchels containing a white powder substance in the lining of wallets, pencil cases and laptop bags.
Initial testing of the substance returned a positive result for heroin, with an estimated weight of 65 kilograms, police said.
ABF Commander Queensland Operations Troy Sokoloff said while most people flying into the country on the Australia Day long weekend were doing so for the right reasons, travellers could expect to be caught if they were trying to smuggle drugs even during busy periods.
More to come.
Cloe Read is the crime and court reporter at Brisbane Times.Connect via X or email.
