Australian woman charged over alleged methamphetamine import

SYDNEY, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- A woman has been charged over an alleged attempt to smuggle 39 kg of methamphetamine from the United States into Australia concealed in luggage.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a joint statement on Friday that the woman, a 20-year-old Australian citizen, was selected for a baggage examination on arrival at Sydney Airport from Los Angeles on Thursday.

During the search, ABF officers located a substance covered in chilli flakes inside the woman's suitcases.

Subsequent testing identified the substance as methamphetamine with a total weight of 39 kg.

The drugs were seized by AFP officers who questioned the woman before charging her with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.

If convicted, she will face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

AFP Detective Acting Inspector Amy Knox said that the seized volume of methamphetamine could have supplied 390,000 street deals with a total value of about 36 million Australian dollars (23.3 million U.S. dollars). Enditem