A NSW woman is expected to face court in Sydney today after allegedly trying to import 18kg of methamphetamine into Australia, hidden in her luggage.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers stopped the Bonnyrigg woman, 40, for a routine examination after she arrived at Sydney International Airport o n 26 December, 2025.
The ABF allegedly found 18 vacuum-sealed bags labelled as "tea" and containing a clear crystalline substance in the woman's luggage. Presumptive testing of the substance returned a positive result for methamphetamine, with an estimated weight of 18kg.
The matter was handed over to AFP officers, who arrested the woman and seized the illicit drugs.
The seizure has an estimated street value of more than $16 million and could have equated to 180 000 individual street deals.*
The woman was charged with:
- One count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to Section 307.1 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
This offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The woman is expected to appear in Bail Division Local Court today (27 December, 2025).
AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said the AFP and ABF continued to see individuals attempting to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia in their luggage.
"This is an important reminder for travellers - individuals or groups offering money to move luggage are not to be trusted, and the reward is not worth the consequences," Det Supt Blunden said.
"Trafficking drugs in your luggage, either knowingly or unknowingly, is a criminal offence, and if caught, you face losing some of the best years of your life sitting in a prison cell either in Australia or overseas.
"The AFP is working closely with our partners at the border and overseas to disrupt these importations before the drugs ever hit our streets.
"This is not a victimless crime. The drugs these individuals carry fuel violence, addiction and organised crime in our communities. Every kilogram seized is a blow to the networks that profit from harm and a reminder that Australia is not an easy target."
ABF Superintendent Elke West said the prevention of drug importation was a priority and ABF officers remained steadfast in their efforts.
"We are always on alert to detect and stop the importation of illicit substances coming into Australia to protect our community from harm," Superintendent West said.
"No matter how these drug traffickers attempt to conceal and move their drugs, our profiling and intelligence holdings means we will always be one step ahead and we will continue to prevent dangerous drugs from reaching our community."
*Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Drug Calculator.
