Four women arrested and charged at Brisbane Airport over alleged 30kg cocaine plot
Four women have been arrested and charged over an alleged plot to import cocaine into Brisbane with one offering a bizarre reason behind how the drugs ended up in her suitcase.
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Four women have been arrested and charged after a random check of two teenagers’ suitcases unveiled a plot to import 30kg of cocaine from Canada.
One of the teenagers told the Australian Federal Police following her arrest on Thursday that she had believed she was getting an “all expenses paid” Vancouver holiday to pick up “designer clothes”.
The unsuspecting university student-turned alleged drug mule Hasna Abdula Muhamed, 18, was arrested alongside co-accused Caprice Seminara, 18, at Brisbane Airport on Thursday following a week-long trip to Vancouver.
Brisbane’s Arrest Court has heard the duo had been randomly selected for examination at the airport, with inspections of their suitcases uncovering a total 30kg of cocaine of unknown purity.
Commonwealth prosecutor Amelia Walker told the court the cocaine was split across the two suitcases, each containing 15kg stored in 1kg blocks – with the estimated value between $4.5 million and $9.9 million.
Muhamed and Seminara had both been paid approximately $8000 in the form of an all-expenses paid trip to Vancouver to pick up the suitcases, Ms Walker said.
Muhamed made a successful application for bail on Friday, in which the court heard the Logan Central support worker had told Australian Federal Police officers she had believed the suitcases contained designer clothing.
The cocaine was wrapped in towels and soaked in vinegar and chilli.
Footage released by Australian Federal Police shows the women being arrested and placed in the car.
“The AFP and ABF work closely every day to disrupt criminal efforts to bring harmful drugs into our country,” AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Natalie Scott said
“Anyone who attempts to import drugs will be stopped and met with the full force of the law. We thank all officers involved for their swift and exemplary work in stopping this brazen importation.”
The court heard Muhamed and Seminara both received express passports in mid-June after they were allegedly enlisted by co-accused Irada Yousif, 23, and Reem Musa Ahmed Abdelmoula, 22.
Ms Walker said Yousif had allegedly organised the 18-year-olds’ flights and accommodation, while Abdelmoula had allegedly been in contact with another man “who gave them the cash”.
They were both arrested at TK Maxx at the airport DFO on Thursday afternoon.
Australian Federal Police are still investigating the potential involvement of other individuals, with the court hearing the owner of the drugs was currently unknown.
Muhamed and Seminara are each charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, while Yousif and Abdelmoula are charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs.
Ms Walker said text messages between the women referenced the need to pick up packages and “inventory” from Canada.
The court heard investigators were still examining the women’s devices for more specific evidence to demonstrate the women had knowledge of the drugs.
The court heard Muhamed, who was scheduled to commence her Bachelor of Psychology at Griffith University this week, would be contesting her charge.
Defence lawyer Brendan Beavon said Yousif and Abdelmoula had gotten into contact with Muhamed over social media, and that Yousif had told Muhamed she had contacts in the fashion industry.
Muhamed was granted bail under conditions including that she have no contact with her co-accused, report three days a week, and not leave the country.
Abdelmoula, a Doolandella architecture student, and Yousif, a Logan Reserve-based airport bartender, were both granted bail under the same conditions.
Yousif had also worked as a support worker and met the other women through that role, the court heard.
Seminara made no application for bail on Friday and her matter was adjourned for an application on July 17.
Originally published as Four women arrested and charged at Brisbane Airport over alleged 30kg cocaine plot
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