A western Sydney couple have appeared in court charged with allegedly importing 10kg of heroin in their suitcases.

The Canley Heights man, 52, and woman, 53, were selected for baggage examination that revealed abnormalities in the lining of two suitcases after they arrived at Sydney Airport on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Thursday, 9 January, 2025.

A substance in the lining of the cases returned a positive initial reading for the presence of heroin.

The heroin had an estimated street value of $5 million and equated to about 50,000 street deals, according to Australian Federal Police Detective Acting Superintendent Dom Stephenson.

Australian Border Force (ABF) officers charged them each with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to section 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code.

The couple have been remanded into custody and are next scheduled to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on March 12.

“Illicit drugs like heroin cause significant harm to users, their loved ones, and the wider Australian community,” said Stephenson.

“Whatever illicit substance criminals try to import, and however they try to hide it, we will detect it, and they will face significant penalties,” added ABF Superintendent Elke West.