A New South Wales woman has been sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by the Victorian County Court following her third conviction for heroin importation.
The Cabramatta woman, 75, who had twice previously been convicted of the same offence in NSW, will serve a non-parole period of eight years.
She was sentenced on Tuesday (1 April, 2025) for importing 5.1kg of heroin in her luggage.
An investigation began on 26 January, 2024, when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Melbourne Airport stopped the woman after she arrived on a flight from Laos.
After allegedly identifying anomalies in her luggage, they found about 7kg of a substance hidden in a hammock.
A presumptive test returned a positive result for heroin.
Forensic testing by the AFP subsequently determined the substance was about 5.1kg of heroin, with a pure net weight of 3.75 kg.
At a hearing in the County Court of Victoria on 13 March, 2025, the woman pleaded guilty to one count of importing a commercial quantity of heroin, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
AFP Acting Commander Jason McArthur said the case highlighted the ruthless nature of criminal networks in their pursuit of profits at the expense of the Australian community.
"Criminals have zero regard for the people they involve in their crimes, or the devastating impact of illicit drugs on members of our society," Acting Commander McArthur said.
"If this amount of heroin had reached our streets it could have caused significant harm.
"This is why the AFP and the ABF work so closely to disrupt these criminal enterprises and prevent illicit substances from inflicting pain and suffering on our community."
ABF Acting Superintendent Costas Karatzas said this detection serves as another reminder for criminals who seek to traffic drugs into Australia that lengthy prison sentences await.
"The ABF is well versed in concealment methods favoured by organised crime, including the use of drug mules, and our officers are highly skilled in assessing and preventing any risks to our border," Acting Superintendent Karatzas said.
"The ABF along with the AFP remain committed to combatting the scourge of criminal elements trying to peddle highly-addictive drugs into the community."
