Two Malindo Air cabin crew were among eight people arrested by the Australian federal police (AFP) over the last 10 days for allegedly bringing heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine worth approximately RM2.95 million into the country.
Commander Tess Walsh from the Victoria police said the arrests were carried out as part of Operation Sunrise by AFP, the Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, ABC News reported.
The syndicate colluded with the Malindo Air cabin crew to smuggle drugs into the country, the joint team alleged.
Investigators said the drugs were brought in via Melbourne and Sydney, carried on the bodies of the cabin crew.
Walsh was quoted as saying the police were convinced that the group had been bringing in illicit material for at least five years.
She added that the seized drugs were “not the total amount of drugs” allegedly brought in.
Of the eight arrested by the police, two are women.
The joint team apprehended a 38-year-old woman on Jan 7 in Tullamarine, followed by the arrest of another six people in raids at Sunshine North and inner-city Melbourne a day later.
The second woman, who is from Richmond, was nabbed on Jan 14.
Besides drugs, the police also seized luxury cars and US$100,000 in cash from the alleged smugglers.
Original article from https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2019/01/16/malindo-crew-nabbed-for-smuggling-rm2-95-million-drugs-into-australia/?fbclid=IwAR0sm_xgyky__pFgAKeqqTIeHFP9qoVNr5LT8VxWb5F_d_NSFKA4jtWrQnE
