A French national has been arrested in Perth, Australia, for allegedly importing a border-controlled drug, just days after a Thai Airways cabin crew member was detained for a similar offense. The 31-year-old French woman appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday, following her arrest at Perth International Airport on May 29.
Australian Border Force officers reportedly stopped the woman, who resides in Manning, Perth, as she arrived on a flight from Thailand. Authorities allege they discovered 50 grams of Butanediol, a chemical that metabolizes into the drug GHB, concealed within a container labeled 'body wash' in her luggage. According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), officers also found a photograph on the woman's phone that suggested she was internally concealing further substances. She was subsequently expelled 40 steroid tablets, which were seized for forensic testing.
The French woman faces one count of importing a marketable quantity of border-controlled drugs, an offense carrying a potential penalty of up to 25 years imprisonment if convicted.
This arrest occurred shortly after a 26-year-old Thai national, a Thai Airways worker, was charged with allegedly attempting to smuggle heroin into Australia. The Thai woman was searched upon arrival at Melbourne Airport on June 25, where Australian Border Force X-rayed 12 tote bags. Officers allegedly discovered over a kilogram of heroin, with an estimated value of $500,000.
She faces charges of importing and possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug and is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 14. The cases are not suggested to be connected.
Thai Airways issued a statement asserting its strict rules and oversight measures for all employees, prohibiting involvement with narcotics or illegal substances. The airline stated it is cooperating with Australian authorities in their investigation.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal emphasized the collaborative efforts between the AFP and ABF in preventing illicit drug importations, warning that individuals involved in such activities face severe penalties.
ABF Superintendent John Eldridge highlighted the dangers of Butanediol, noting its conversion to GHB in the body and its potential for fatal consequences. He also pointed out that Butanediol was classified as a border-controlled drug in 2024, placing its illegal importation on par with drugs like methamphetamine and heroin.