29 May 2013

NZ woman in Darwin court on drugs charges

7:52 pm on 29 May 2013

A New Zealand woman is facing up to 10 years in jail if found guilty of importing 8.5kg of methamphetamine into Australia.

Bernadine Prince appeared in the Darwin Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with importing border controlled drugs and possessing a schedule two substance.

The Australian Federal Police allege that the 41-year-old was responsible for two suitcases that arrived at Darwin International Airport on a flight from Cambodia via Singapore on Friday.

They say seven backpacks were found inside the suitcases, with methamphetamine hidden in padding and Ms Prince was later arrested in central Darwin, the ABC reports.

Ms Prince has been remanded in custody to reappear on 6 June. The maximum penalty in Australia for importing a border controlled drug is 10 years' imprisonment or a $A340,000 fine.

Prosecutors say police from Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia and Kenya are involved in the investigation.