Two Hungarian nationals, aged 33, have been charged with importing heroin concealed internally, following an investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) at Perth Airport.
The men arrived from overseas on Sunday, 29 December 2024, where ABF officers selected them for a routine baggage examination.
During the check, one of the men complained of stomach pain and requested medical attention. After paramedics assessed the pair, the AFP was alerted, triggering an investigation. Both men were taken to Royal Perth Hospital, where they were monitored for nearly 40 hours.
One man excreted 30 pellets containing heroin, weighing an estimated 300 grams, while the other expelled two pellets before passing 29 more. The total weight of heroin seized amounted to 610 grams, with a potential street value exceeding $259,000.
AFP Inspector Shona Davis warned of the extreme risks involved in smuggling drugs internally, noting that ruptured pellets could lead to fatal overdoses.
ABF Acting Superintendent John Sweet reiterated the commitment to detecting and preventing drug smuggling, emphasising the severe consequences for those attempting to exploit Australia’s borders for criminal activity.
The AFP will allege that the men swallowed the pellets before traveling to Australia. They have each been charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug, facing a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
Both men appeared in Northbridge Magistrates Court on separate dates and have been remanded in custody.
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