An Australian woman has been charged with attempting to smuggle nearly 7kg of heroin with a market value of more than NT$40 million (US$1.25 million) into Taiwan late last year, the Aviation Police Bureau said on Monday.
Taipei customs officers found 6.926kg of heroin hidden in a compartment in her check-in luggage at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in December last year.
The woman, in her 60s, flew into Taiwan from Australia via Malaysia, where she collected the luggage, said Chen Po-chuan (陳博全), captain of the Second Investigation Team of the bureau’s Criminal Investigation Brigade.
Photo courtesy of the Aviation Police Bureau
SUSPICIOUS
When questioned, she said that she came to Taiwan on vacation, but she raised suspicion, as she did not have many clothes or everyday items in her luggage, he said.
The Aviation Police Bureau sent officers to the hotel she had booked to see if anyone showed up to collect the drugs, but to no avail, Chen said.
HUNT FOR ACCOMPLICES
Police have shared information with Taiwan’s overseas offices in an effort to track down the woman’s accomplices, Chen said.
Prosecutors have charged the woman with contravening the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act (毒品危害防制條例).
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