Two New Zealand nationals faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday (25 November, 2025) charged for their alleged roles in a 36kg methamphetamine importation at Melbourne Airport.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers seized the illicit drugs on Monday (24 November, 2025) after selecting two women, both aged 22, for a baggage examination following their arrival on a flight from Malaysia into Melbourne.
The officers allegedly located a white crystalline substance in each of the women's suitcases, totalling about 36kg. Initial testing of the substance returned a positive result for methamphetamine and the matter was referred to the AFP for investigation.
This amount of methamphetamine has an estimated street value of more than $33 million and could have been distributed as 360,000 street deals if it had reached the community.
AFP officers attended the airport and arrested the women.
They were each charged with:
- One count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of possessing commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
These offences carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Both women were remanded into custody to appear before court on 13 March, 2026.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Jarrod Ragg said the AFP and its law enforcement partners worked together to combat attempts by criminal networks using air travel as part of the international drug-trafficking chain.
"The AFP is committed to defending Australia from drug imports and trafficking. We remain focused on disrupting criminals who seek to wreak harm and havoc in our communities through illicit substances," Det a/Supt Ragg said.
"Methamphetamine is linked to domestic violence, assaults on medical professionals, and violence on our streets. The AFP stands ready and able to respond to those who are willing to risk this social harm for a personal profit and greed."
ABF Acting Superintendent Ian Beasant said that ABF officers were alert to criminal activity at the border and would use any available means to prevent the movement of illicit substances across the border.
"Our ABF officers are seizing significant quantities of illicit drugs at and beyond the border, wresting profits from the hands of criminals and intercepting anyone that may pose a threat to the community," a/Supt Beasant said.
"Organised crime groups share one motivating factor for their nefarious activities and that is accumulating profit.
"The ABF will continue working closely with our partners using intelligence-led targeting to ensure our border is secure."
