A woman facing 25 years in jail for trafficking USD 500,000 of cocaine in her digestive system reswallowed eight of the pellets after pooing them out.
Customs officials at Perth International Airport, Western Australia, stopped the 27-year-old woman as she arrived on a flight from Europe on 11th February.
After police took her to be held securely at Royal Perth Hospital it emerged that eight of the pellets had been reswallowed after she had passed them on the journey.
The woman – an Austrian national – passed a total of 124 pellets containing nearly 1 kilogramme of cocaine (2.2 lbs) under medical supervision by 1.30pm on Monday, 13th February.
Police say the drugs had a street value of around USD 500,000 (GBP 415,725).
The woman was discharged from the hospital after scans confirmed there were no more drugs in her system on Monday, 13th February.
She was charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of cocaine at the Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 14th February, and faces up to 25 years in jail if found guilty.
She will reportedly remain in custody until Friday, 10th March, when she is set to reappear in court.
Australian authorities have reportedly caught two more travelers who smuggled internally concealed cocaine since 28th December 2022.
One of them, an Irish national, was charged after he allegedly swallowed six Kinder Surprise capsules containing about 120 grammes (0.26 lbs) of cocaine in the city of Melbourne, in December 2022.
The second person, reportedly a Portuguese native, was arrested after officers found him carrying about 1.6 kilogrammes (3.5 lbs) of cocaine in his system several days later in the city of Sydney.
AFP Commander Kate Ferry advocated against the transport of drugs in the digestive system, because of the serious health risks.
Ferry said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “Anyone trying to move drugs across borders concealed inside their bodies is not only risking a substantial jail term but potentially a fatal drug overdose or permanent damage to their internal organs.
“The AFP estimates the seizure of these three illicit imports has saved the community more than USD 1.75 million (GBP 1.45 million) in drug-related harm, including associated crime, healthcare and loss of productivity.
“The photographs of the seized pellets of drugs after they’ve been excreted should also highlight to drug users the disgusting reality of how these illicit substances are transported across the world.”
ABF Superintendent Vesna Gavranich explained that people trying to import illicit substances by internal concealment were putting their health and freedom in great danger.
Gavranich said: “This type of disgusting behaviour is not worth the risk to your life,.
“Our officers are highly trained in detecting and disrupting attempts to import illicit substances.
“We will ensure you are caught and face prosecution.
“As the first line of defence for our community, the ABF, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to make it a hostile place for criminals involved in the importation of illegal drugs.”
