Heroin and meth seized in double bust at Melbourne Airport

Two travellers are under arrest after separate drug seizures, including one man who allegedly had methamphetamine hidden in the lining of his suitcase.

A man allegedly had drugs hidden in the lining of this suitcase.

Two travellers have been arrested over separate major drug seizures totalling 5kg at Melbourne Airport.

High-level charges have been laid against a 38-year-old man from Hamilton Hill in Western Australia after he was detained after arriving on a flight from Singapore on Tuesday.

It is alleged that 3kg of methamphetamine was in his luggage as he entered the country.

Australian Border Force officers found the drugs hidden in the lining of his suitcase soon after he got off the flight.

There was allegedly 3kg of methamphetamine in the man’s suitcase.

Australian Federal Police later charged him with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and possessing a controlled drug.

The man was remanded in custody.

In a separate incident, an elderly man is facing life in prison after being busted with 2kg of heroin in his luggage.

Australian Border Force officials allegedly found the drug haul inside the 77-year-old New Zealand national’s suitcase at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday.

Officials allegedly found the white powder concealed inside the lining of the man’s suitcase as they searched his bag after he arrived in Melbourne on a flight from Thailand.

A 77-year-old man’s suitcase allegedly had 2kg of heroin inside. Picture: Australian Border Force

The man was charged with attempting to import heroin and was remanded in custody after fronting the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

He faces a maximum jail term of life in prison over the alleged import.

ABF Superintendent Kelly-Anne Parish said criminals hid illicit drugs in lucrative ways, but officials could detect them using advanced technology.

“Criminals will try to hide illicit drugs in a variety of ways, however no matter the amount of drugs that are hidden, big or small, our officers have the technology and expertise to find them,” Supt Parish said.

“This is a good example of the real-time capabilities of our officers working at the border, 24 hours a day, to protect the Australian community from harmful drugs.

“The ABF and AFP work hard to protect the Australian community from the scourge of drugs and ensure airports are not part of the illicit supply chain.”

Australian Federal Police Detective Acting Superintendent Amanda Glover said: “Drug traffickers prey on our community, causing drug-related crime and the associated health and social costs”.

“Every detection of drugs at the border keeps our community safer and ensures that drug traffickers cannot reap profits by preying on Australians.”