A 24-year-old Canadian woman has been charged in Australia after authorities allegedly found 14.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at approximately $13.4 million, hidden in her luggage. The drugs were discovered by border officers at Brisbane International Airport after the woman arrived from Vancouver via Fiji on July 28.
The meth, concealed in packages wrapped in vinegar-soaked towels and stuffed with coffee beans, could have been sold as nearly 145,000 street deals, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF). The woman, who faces a maximum life sentence if convicted, appeared in a Brisbane court following the charges.
Investigations are ongoing, and no further arrests have been made in connection with this case. The AFP has emphasized the significant impact of meth on public health and crime in Australia, with methamphetamine being responsible for about 27 hospitalizations daily in 2021-22.
In a related incident, two Canadians were arrested at Vancouver International Airport for attempting to smuggle 25 kilograms of meth, valued at $1.25 million, into Australia. Authorities have not found a connection between the Vancouver and Brisbane cases.
Both the Australian and Canadian authorities continue to investigate the cases, with further details withheld as they proceed through the courts.