An Italian national has been charged with drug smuggling after allegedly arriving at Perth Airport with about 300 grams of heroin, worth about $135,000, hidden inside his body.
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The 49-year-old man arrived from Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Kuala Lumpur, on September 6.
After trace technology showed readings for narcotics during a baggage examination, Australian Border Force officers referred him to the Australian Federal Police for an internal examination.
The man was taken to hospital where 63 pellets were allegedly found in his stomach, plus three more pellets that had been internally inserted.
He was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug and faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
ABF Regional Commander Rod O'Donnell said the ABF was fully aware of the lengths people were willing to go to bring drugs into Australia.
"They not only risk lengthy jail time, but are playing Russian roulette with their own lives and health," he said.
AFP Detective Superintendent Timothy Underhill said people importing drugs internally were affecting the community and risking their own lives.
"Smuggling drugs internally is an incredibly stupid endeavour - there is a constant risk that stomach acid will eat through the wrapping of the drugs a person is concealing, risking a fatal drug overdose," he said.
Australian Associated Press
