Seven charged for 4kg heroin haul in stomachs
By Rural Press Interactive (Australia)
A joint Customs and Australian Federal Police (AFP) operation has resulted in seven Cambodian nationals being charged with importing heroin into Australia by concealing the drug internally.
Four women and three men arrived at Sydney Airport on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, almost two weeks ago as part of a group travelling from Cambodia.
Police say one one member of the group - a 36-year-old man - was unconscious when the aircraft was met by Customs officers when it landed. The man was transferred to hospital for urgent medical attention and was later placed into Australian Federal Police custody on suspicion of concealing drugs internally.
One of the pellets allegedly swallowed by the man is thought to have burst in his stomach, resulting in a massive overdose.
He was in intensive care for more than four days and underwent surgery to remove 176 pellets from his stomach. The man recovered sufficiently to be charged during a bedside court hearing on October 14. He was remanded in custody to appear before Sydney Central Local Court on Wednesday, December 13.
Meanwhile the other six people were detained by Customs officers on suspicion that they had also swallowed pellets containing drugs. All were taken to Sydney hospitals, where they allegedly passed small pellets containing heroin.
The federal police will allege in court that the seven people attempted to smuggle 1,380 pellets containing a total of up to 4.1 kilograms of heroin into Australia.
Another two women left the group during a stopover in Bangkok after feeling ill and were taken to hospital. They were later charged by the Royal Thai Police with carrying drugs internally.
AFP National Manager Border and International Network Tim Morris said smuggling illicit drugs internally was an insidious method of concealment.
"Internal concealment demonstrates what an evil trade drug trafficking is. Using humans as drug mules reflects the blatant disregard drug traffickers display not only toward users, but to members of their own syndicates," Federal Agent Morris said.
"Twice in recent weeks, people carrying drugs have almost died as a result of packages rupturing in their stomachs - it is an ugly and painful way to die. It also places an extra burden on intensive care units around the country and the general health and welfare system."
Customs NSW Regional Director Gail Batman said the case should serve as a warning to people about the dangers of concealing drugs internally.
"If drug smugglers attempt to import drugs in this way they should be aware that they are risking their lives," Ms Batman said.
A 34-year-old woman is expected to appear before Sydney Central Local Court later today to face one charge of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug. She was released from hospital yesterday after allegedly passing 288 pellets containing approximately 576 grams of heroin.
Two men, both 34 years old, and three women, aged 24, 35 and 36 years, from the group were all charged over the weekend of 14-15 October and appeared before Sydney Central Local Court last week. They were remanded in custody to face the same court on Wednesday, 13 December.
All were charged with one count each of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug under Section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $550,000 and/or 25 years imprisonment.
Four women and three men arrived at Sydney Airport on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, almost two weeks ago as part of a group travelling from Cambodia.
Police say one one member of the group - a 36-year-old man - was unconscious when the aircraft was met by Customs officers when it landed. The man was transferred to hospital for urgent medical attention and was later placed into Australian Federal Police custody on suspicion of concealing drugs internally.
One of the pellets allegedly swallowed by the man is thought to have burst in his stomach, resulting in a massive overdose.
He was in intensive care for more than four days and underwent surgery to remove 176 pellets from his stomach. The man recovered sufficiently to be charged during a bedside court hearing on October 14. He was remanded in custody to appear before Sydney Central Local Court on Wednesday, December 13.
Meanwhile the other six people were detained by Customs officers on suspicion that they had also swallowed pellets containing drugs. All were taken to Sydney hospitals, where they allegedly passed small pellets containing heroin.
The federal police will allege in court that the seven people attempted to smuggle 1,380 pellets containing a total of up to 4.1 kilograms of heroin into Australia.
Another two women left the group during a stopover in Bangkok after feeling ill and were taken to hospital. They were later charged by the Royal Thai Police with carrying drugs internally.
AFP National Manager Border and International Network Tim Morris said smuggling illicit drugs internally was an insidious method of concealment.
"Internal concealment demonstrates what an evil trade drug trafficking is. Using humans as drug mules reflects the blatant disregard drug traffickers display not only toward users, but to members of their own syndicates," Federal Agent Morris said.
"Twice in recent weeks, people carrying drugs have almost died as a result of packages rupturing in their stomachs - it is an ugly and painful way to die. It also places an extra burden on intensive care units around the country and the general health and welfare system."
Customs NSW Regional Director Gail Batman said the case should serve as a warning to people about the dangers of concealing drugs internally.
"If drug smugglers attempt to import drugs in this way they should be aware that they are risking their lives," Ms Batman said.
A 34-year-old woman is expected to appear before Sydney Central Local Court later today to face one charge of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug. She was released from hospital yesterday after allegedly passing 288 pellets containing approximately 576 grams of heroin.
Two men, both 34 years old, and three women, aged 24, 35 and 36 years, from the group were all charged over the weekend of 14-15 October and appeared before Sydney Central Local Court last week. They were remanded in custody to face the same court on Wednesday, 13 December.
All were charged with one count each of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug under Section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $550,000 and/or 25 years imprisonment.
2 comments:
THERE WILL BE MORE CAMBODIAN BECOME DRUG MULES IF HUN SEN RULE CAMBODIA!
WE SO POOR, MAKE LESS THAN 1c PER DAY AND NO HOPE THE HAVE ANY BRIGHT FUTURE AND START TO BELIVE HUMANKIND DESERTED US!
LOOK AT US UN AND WORLD LEADER WE ARE BEING USED WORST THAN POL POT REGIME TO GO POISON AND KILL THE CIVILIZE FREE WORLD. AND YOU WILL TREAT US AS CRIMINAL BECAUSE THE COMMUNIST HUN SEN KEEP US HAFT FREE AND POOR!
POWERTY AND DESPAIR TURN US TO DO BAD THING! HELP US PLEASE REFORM THE CAMBODIA POLICE AND ARMY!
I believe that some of them will relate to Neth Savoeurn and Hok Lundy for sure. PLease Australian Police ask these traffickers, if Hun Sen clan has anything to do with these drugs. Hun Sen just been in Australia recently. He was so happy to see the drugs market in Australia !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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