Melbourne Airport heroin bust: Malaysia Airlines employee arrest
A MALAYSIA Airlines crew member has been allegedly caught smuggling $1.4 million worth of heroin into Melbourne.
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EXCLUSIVE: A MALAYSIA Airlines crew member has been allegedly caught smuggling $1.4 million worth of heroin into Melbourne.
The Herald Sun can reveal the flight attendant was detained at Tullamarine International Airport last month after he was allegedly sprung stuffing 3.5kg of heroin into his jacket after flying in from Kuala Lumpur.
Australian Federal Police officers swooped on the 33-year-old Malaysian national, arresting him in front of stunned onlookers.
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He has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border control drug.
The alleged smuggler sparked the attention of authorities after he was caught acting suspiciously in baggage claim.
The nervous worker was then allegedly seen removing concealed items from his suitcase and placing them in his jacket.
An AFP spokesperson said the attendant was allegedly seen removing concealed items from his suitcase and placing them in his jacket.
ABF officers searched the man, allegedly uncovering 10 packets wrapped in masking tape.
“The packets underwent preliminary testing and returned an indication for heroin,” said the spokesperson.
A Melbourne airport worker who witnessed the arrest said the man appeared uneasy moments before his arrest.
“It looked like he knew something was about to happen. He went to the bag but left it at the carousel for a few minutes,” the witness told the Herald Sun.
“They waited for him to pick up the bag before they arrested him.”
The Herald Sun understands the AFP have been probing links between the alleged seizure and other drug operations in Australia.
It is understood the entire Malaysian Airlines crew were forced to remain at the airport to undergo questioning.
Malaysia Airlines has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded.
“The whole crew got fingerprinted before the flight left to make sure no one else was involved,” said the worker.
The man is expected to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on August 6.