Three men are expected to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on 24 June, 2026, charged with allegedly attempting to import a commercial quantity of heroin into Australia.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers selected two men - one aged 35, the second aged 36 - for baggage examinations after they arrived at Sydney Airport on a flight from Thailand on 23 April, 2026.
Inside each man's carry-on bag, officers allegedly located a large plastic bag hidden in the inner lining that contained an off-white powder which returned a positive indication to heroin. The substance in each bag had an estimated total weight of about 4.5kg.
The two men were advised by ABF officers they would be the subject of further law enforcement action, and they fled through the exit of the sterile area, towards the arrival court.
AFP officers on duty in the area pursued them through the international arrivals area and outside the terminal. The 35-year-old man was slowed down by a member of the public and then detained by the pursuing AFP officers. He resisted arrest and was subdued with the use of OC spray. He was taken to hospital for a medical assessment.
The 36-year-old man was arrested in Surry Hills on 28 April, 2026.
AFP officers also arrested a third man, 34, linked to the other two men, after he arrived on a separate flight from Thailand later on 23 April, 2026. An ABF examination of his bag allegedly identified a large plastic bag in the inner lining containing an off-white powder which returned a positive indication to heroin. The substance had an estimated total weight of about 5kg.
The men were each charged with one count of import commercial quantity of border controlled drug contrary to subsection 307.1 (1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Davina Copelin said the arrests demonstrated the strong partnership between the AFP and Australian Border Force in preventing illicit drugs entering Australia.
"This alleged importation involved a substantial quantity of illicit substances and underscores the lengths organised crime groups will go to in order to exploit international travel routes for financial gain," Det Supt Copelin said.
"The AFP continues to work hand-in-hand with the ABF to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal syndicates that seek to harm Australian communities through drug importation.
"Anyone contemplating involvement in drug trafficking should be aware these are serious offences. The penalties can be severe, including life imprisonment, and those involved will be detected, arrested and held to account before the courts."
ABF Superintendent Elke West said Australian Border Force officers were Australia's first line of defence when it came to intercepting illicit drugs.
"ABF officers operate around the clock at the border to stop harmful substances, including heroin, from reaching the community," Superintendent West said.
"While criminal syndicates continue to adapt their concealment techniques, our officers are supported by specialist training and sophisticated technology to uncover these imports.
"Ongoing cooperation with partner agencies, including the AFP, is critical to disrupting drug importations and holding offenders to account."
