Aussie cops show seized items in ‘cabin crew drug haul’
PETALING JAYA — After arresting eight people, including a cabin crew member of Malindo Air, in Melbourne, Australian authorities posted pictures of the seized items on social media.
Australia Federal Police (AFP) said in a Facebook post on Thursday (Jan 17) that the airline crew member was used to bring in over A$20mil worth of illicit drugs into the country.
“Eight people have been arrested in Melbourne over the past fortnight as part of this operation, and multiple items were seized, including 6kg heroin, 8kg methamphetamine, approx 0.5kg cocaine, drug paraphernalia, cars and a significant quantity of cash,” it said.
The seized heroin amounted to a street value of A$14.5mil, while the methamphetamine had a street value of A$6.4mil, it said.
AFP added that the operation included Victoria Police, Australian Border Force and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
On Wednesday (Jan 16), Malindo Air said it had suspended a cabin crew member held in Australia for suspected drug trafficking.
Confirming the arrest of one of its workers at Melbourne International Airport by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Jan 7, Malindo Air added that it was ready to cooperate with the relevant authorities, whether Australian or Malaysian, in connection with any investigation.
Investigators allege the drugs were brought in via Melbourne and Sydney, carried in by the cabin crew member.
Commander Tess Walsh from Victoria Police was reported as saying that police believed the syndicate had been operating for at least five years.
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Posted by Australian Federal Police on Tuesday, January 15, 2019
