A 22-year-old woman from Lilydale was charged after officers allegedly found 18kg of methamphetamine and 2kg of cocaine in vacuum-sealed bags concealed in her luggage on January 29.

The woman had arrived at Melbourne Airport after travelling from Los Angeles before being selected for a bag search by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers.

After allegedly finding 20kg of drugs concealed in her luggage, police charged the woman with a string of offences, including one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and one count of possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug. 

The woman fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 30.

She was refused bail and will return to court on April 23.

A second woman, a Portuguese national, has been charged with importing methamphetamine into Australia.

ABF officers allege the 20-year-old had concealed the drug inside vacuum-sealed bags of clothing, which weighed 16kg, which were discovered at Melbourne Airport on January 18.

The woman had also arrived from the US.

She was charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug and one count of possession.

She appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 20 and was refused bail. 

The woman, 20, will return to the same court on May 5.

AFP Commander Raegan Stewart warned federal police officers are cracking down on illegal drug imports in Australia, including those involved in transnational drug syndicates.

“Despite all the risks involved, we are still arresting people who attempt to bring illicit drugs into our country through our airports,” Stewart said.

“No matter how elaborate or creative the attempts are, the AFP and our partners are committed to preventing airports from being used as part of the criminal supply chain.

“It’s about protecting the community from the scourge of drugs and targeting individuals who seek to profit from the illicit trade.”

National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline 1800 250 015