Flight attendants carried heroin into Melbourne for a Vietnamese crime syndicate which has been operating in Australia for several years, police have alleged following a series of arrests and raids that saw $20m worth of drugs seized.
Flight attendants on Malindo Airways were allegedly involved in a drug smuggling ring.
Two flight attendants, employed by Malaysia-based Malindo Airways, were among eight people arrested after allegedly packing heroin onto their bodies for the crime group, which police said was bringing drugs into Sydney and Melbourne.
One of the cabin crew, a 38-year-old woman, was arrested at Melbourne’s international airport on January 7, allegedly carrying 1kg of heroin.
In total, police have seized 6kg of “high-grade heroin” trafficked into Melbourne from Malaysia, along with 8kg of the drug ice and 500g of cocaine.
Cash and cars — including a luxury Porsche Macan — have also been seized.
The Melbourne-based syndicate was allegedly in operation for at least five years and has long been on law enforcement’s radar. But it was only last year that authorities received intelligence alleging an international cabin crew were carrying the drugs into Australia, Australian Federal Police Commander Amanda Kates said.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Tess Walsh said the alleged key players in Melbourne had been arrested.
“This was a complex five-month operation targeting an alleged Vietnamese organised crime syndicate based in Melbourne,” she said. “The syndicate was highly organised and had been operating in Australia for quite some years.
“We’ve alleged that the syndicate is responsible for the importation and trafficking of high-grade heroin and methylamphetamine into Australia from Malaysia.
“During the investigation police identified that the drugs were being brought into Australia via an international commercial airline, with the cabin crew used as the drug couriers. These couriers were entering Australia predominantly through Melbourne and Sydney.”
Commander Kates said the alleged trafficking had gone on for some time.
“One of our key players has indicated that it was probably the 20th time they’ve actually done it,” she alleged.
“We have known of this syndicate for a very extensive period of time but our inquiries had been fruitless. Only in the last five months have we indicated that it may be a cabin crew involved.”
Australian Border Force Regional Commander Victoria, Craig Palmer, said any attempt to bring drugs into the country would be met with the full force of Australian border and law enforcement agencies — before, at and after the border.
“Airline staff are not above the law,” he said. “They are subject to intervention at the border like everyone else and face significant penalties if they are found to be using their positions to attempt to circumvent our border controls.”