(LAWFUEL) – Two South African women will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court this morning charged with importing heroin concealed internally.
The women, aged 31 and 28, were stopped by Customs officers when they arrived off a flight from Hong Kong on Thursday (11 December 2008).
During questioning, Customs officers became suspicious that the women may have been concealing drugs internally and referred them to the AFP.
Police will allege in court that the 31-year-old later passed 99 pellets believed to contain heroin, weighing an estimated total of 495 grams.
The 28-year-old woman passed 77 pellets, also believed to contain heroin, and weighing an estimated total of 385 grams.
The substance contained in the pellets will undergo forensic testing to determine its purity and exact quantity.
Both women were charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.
