MELBOURNE: Jailed for smuggling cocaine
A US national has been sentenced by the County Court after importing 12 kilograms of cocaine into Victoria in 2025.
The woman, 34, was sentenced to eight years and 10 months’ jail, with a non-parole period of five years and eight months, after pleading guilty to one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.
The Australian Federal Police began investigating the woman in February, 2025, after screening of a phone belonging to another US national by Australian Border Force officers at Melbourne Airport revealed text exchanges with the woman containing images of suspected cocaine blocks.
The ABF alerted the AFP, which worked to identify and locate the woman, who had checked into multiple hotels across the Melbourne CBD.
AFP members subsequently attended one of the hotels and arrested the woman.
During a search of one of those hotel rooms, near Flagstaff, they discovered blocks of cocaine concealed in duffle bags.
The total seizure weighed about 12kg, which has a street value of almost $4 million, equivalent to about 60,000 street-level deals.
AFP Commander Nick Read said the AFP was committed to intercepting those who came into the country on a mission to exploit vulnerable Australians.
“Criminals who intend to come to Australia with the objective to profit from the harm and misery caused by illicit drugs should expect to be detected, arrested and bought before the courts,” Commander Read said.