Why cops sent woman a replica package of Mexican handicrafts and arrested her after she fell for their elaborate plan
- 29-year-old woman arrested after cops sent her replica handicraft packages
- Allegedly attempted to smuggle 14kg of methamphetamine from Mexico
- Border Force intercepted packages sent replicas to Surfers Paradise address
- Arrested and charge with attempt to import and possess unlawful drugs
A woman has been charged with importing 14kg of meth after police allegedly intercepted the drugs disguised as Mexican handicrafts and sent her a replica of the package.
Australian Border Force officers allegedly found methamphetamine hidden inside the flaps of cardboard boxes that arrived at Brisbane Airport from Mexico last Thursday, September 16.
Preemptive testing of the white powder that was concealed in the boxes allegedly returned a positive result for methamphetamine.
A 29-year-old Colombian national (pictured) faces a possible sentence of life in prison for allegedly importing 14kg of methamphetamine into Australia from Mexico
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The matter was then referred to the Federal Police.
Officers made replica copies of the alleged shipment and delivered it to an address on Chevron Island, Surfers Paradise yesterday where it was allegedly received by a 29-year-old Colombian national.
The AFP raided the house under a search warrant and allegedly found the replica boxes cut apart in the same place where the drugs had been concealed in the original boxes.
The drugs were allegedly found by Australian Border Force on September 16 hidden inside the flaps of cardboard boxes (pictured)
The Australian Federal Police took over the matter, sending a replica of the alleged shipment (pictured) to a Surfers Paradise address
Police also seized a number of electronic devices, a passport, consignment documents, the blade used to cut open the boxes and the replica consignment for further investigation.
The woman was arrested and charged with importing commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and attempt to possess commercial quantity unlawfully imported border controlled drug.
Campbell McCallum, her lawyer, says she denies she has anything to do with the importation and said she may have been the victim of a group targeting her.
ABF Commander Chris Waters said the drugs were found because of the ABF's access to drug concealment intelligence and technology.
After the woman accepted the packages, the AFP raided the property under a search warrant, seizing the replica packages (pictured) along with a blade, passport and electronic devices
Police found the replica packages open to where the drugs had been hidden in the original packages (pictured)
'The message to those who attempt to bring illicit drugs across the Australian border is clear – you will be identified, and you will be stopped,' he said.
The woman was granted bail on Friday and will appear before Southport Magistrates Court on October 18.
The maximum sentence for the charges she faces is life in prison.
