Alexandra Karanfilovska, Israh Chahine to face trial on drug charge
Two glamorous friends will face trial on allegations they helped to import millions of dollars of methamphetamine hidden inside ration packs from the United States
The Standard
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UPDATE
Two young women have denied helping to import millions of dollars of methamphetamine hidden inside ration packs from the United States.
Glam friends Israh Chahine and Alexandra Karanfilovski pleaded not guilty on Friday to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of the border controlled drug methamphetamine.
In May 2020, the Australian Border Force intercepted a consignment labelled as food ration packs from the US , which on closer inspection allegedly contained 5.7kg or $2.7 million dollars of methamphetamine.
They were arrested following dramatic police raids at their Arncliffe homes.
The alleged offending occurred in the eight days between May 5 and May 13, 2020, according to their charges.
Last month, Chahine altered her bail so that she could study a Diploma of Community Services at TAFE.
Their co-accused Mohamad Hawchar - who is also charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug - is still undergoing negotiations with the Commonwealth, his lawyer told the court.
His lawyer said whether he pleads guilty or not guilty will depend on a fresh indictment to be filed by the Commonwealth.
Chahine and Karanfilovski will now face a two to three week trial, which is listed for November.
EARLIER
Reported by Eliza Barr on November 24, 2020
Two young women charged with helping import methamphetamine worth millions of dollars hidden inside ration packs from the United States have faced court.
Close friends Israh Chahine and Alexandra Karanfilovska, both 23, made a fleeting appearance at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.
When they were arrested in May, a court heard the Australian Border Force allegedly intercepted a consignment labelled as food ration packs from the United States.
A closer inspection allegedly revealed 5.7kg of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $2.7 million.
A Commonwealth prosecutor previously told Central Local Court police would allege the box of drugs was addressed to Chahine and delivered to Karanfilovska’s address.
“After Chahine has taken the package to Ayshan, she contacts Karanfilovska and says ‘are you happy with $1000?’,” Ms Brain told the court.
“Karanfilovska asks how much Chahine received, she says $2000, and that she doesn’t want to do it again for $1000.”
The pair was originally charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and participating in a criminal group before the prosecution withdrew those charges to proceed with the single charge of attempting to import the drugs.
The matter was adjourned at the request of an agent for the pair’s solicitor Ahmad Dib and will return to court for a committal mention on December 8.
The close friends remain effectively under house arrest, and are only permitted to leave home with an approved chaperone.
The pair covered their faces and attempted to flee from waiting media outside court before a young female associate told a News Corp photographer and reporter to “go f*** yourselves”.
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