4 youths with B.C. links arrested in Australia for allegedly smuggling heroin
These bags of heroin were seized from luggage by border agents at Vancouver International Airport in 2004.
Four youths with ties to B.C. who allegedly tried to smuggle millions of dollars in heroin through Australian customs could face life in prison.
A 17-year-old girl was arrested with three others on Monday Nov. 18. They were caught by border security allegedly trying to bring 17 kilograms of heroin into the country on a flight from China to Melbourne.
An X-ray of their eight bags allegedly revealed they were lined with packages of drugs worth about $5 million.
The four have been charged by Australian Federal Police with importing commercial-grade border-controlled substances, according to a police press release.
The offence carries a maximum of life imprisonment.
Among the accused is Tyrell Brown, 20; Jason Singh, 21; and Madison Trim, 19. Brown is reported to have attended Surrey’s Elgin Park Secondary and Singh, who is from the Netherlands, attended Surrey’s Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary.
The minor, who cannot be named, is believed to have attended school in South Surrey.
The three older youths appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Nov. 19 and were remanded into custody until their next court appearance in February.
The court heard that Trim had never been involved with police before.
The minor was expected to appear at a Children’s Court hearing.
Australian Customs and Border Protection Services Acting National Manager Dean Hogarth said in the police media release that the seizure was “a sophisticated operation, involving multiple people and numerous bags.”
Australian Federal Police manager of crime operations Commander Jennifer Hurst said in a statement that the investigation was ongoing.
“The AFP will continue to work alongside our domestic and international partner agencies to detect and disrupt illicit drug importations, and our investigations into the circumstances of this venture remain ongoing,” Hurst said.
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