The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have charged a man after a pellet of heroin was allegedly found “in his body”.
with drug offences after he was searched on arrival in Perth Airport yesterday morning due to “suspicions around his behaviour”.
Border Force officials stopped the 38-year-old man after he arrived on a flight from Asia, then notified the AFP, who took him to a hospital for a medical scan.
The scan allegedly revealed the presence of a pellet hidden in his body, which police suspect contained heroin.
The man later excreted one pellet, which will be tested by police to determine if the substance is illicit drugs, and to determine its weight and purity.
The man allegedly inserted the pellet into his body before boarding a flight to return home to Australia, the AFP said.
The AFP did not specify which country the man had arrived from.
Yesterday’s arrest is the third case in three weeks where the AFP have charged Australians who allegedly tried to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia concealed internally.
“Again, we see the disgusting way that people try to smuggle items into Australia,” the AFP’s Acting Commander Peter Hatch said.
“Illicit drugs cause immense harm to the community, through associated crime, road crashes and the demands on the health system and the AFP and ABF are working hard to stop illegal substances from reaching our communities.”
ABF Acting Superintendent Brett Hennessy said internal concealment of drugs was not only a reckless way to import illicit substances, it was also extremely dangerous to the person’s health.
“Border Force officers are trained to examine more than just baggage, we observe a passenger’s demeanour and behaviour, and how they interact with other passengers and crew members,” he said.
“ABF officers work every day to protect passengers, crew members, and the wider Australian community from the harms and dangers which illicit drugs bring.”
The man has been charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, and if convicted could face a maximum of 25 years in prison.
He is expected to face Perth Magistrates Court today.
