Austrian woman charged with attempting to internally smuggle 1kg of cocaine into Perth Airport

A woman was allegedly busted with 124 cocaine-filled pellets hidden in her digestive system, eight of which she was said to have pooed out – and then swallowed again.

The Austrian woman was pulled aside by security at Perth International Airport after flying into Western Australia from Europe on February 11.

Australian Border Force officers performed a baggage check and contacted the Australian Federal Police for further investigation after their suspicions were raised.

She was was taken to Royal Perth Hospital where she allegedly passed the 124 pellets over two days under medical supervision.

She is accused of passing almost 1kg of cocaine – worth an estimated street value of around $500,000. 

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An Austrian woman (above) has been charged for allegedly trying to smuggle cocaine into Perth by hiding 124 pellets in her digestive system

The Australian Federal Police allege the woman passed 124 pellets containing almost 1kg of cocaine (above) while under medial supervision at Royal Perth Hospital

AFP allege she’d excreted eight of the pellets while travelling but then re-swallowed them so they’d stay hidden, the West Australian reported.

The woman was discharged from the hospital on Monday once it was confirmed there was no more alleged drugs in her system.

She was charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of cocaine and is set to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on March 10.

If found guilty, she faces a maximum of 25 years in jail.

The news comes after two international travellers were arrested just days apart for allegedly trying to smuggle drugs into Australia by hiding them internally. 

The first was an Irishman allegedly caught trying to bring 120g of cocaine into Melbourne.

The cocaine was allegedly hidden inside six Kinder Surprise eggs which he is accused of concealing internally.

A few days later a Portuguese man was allegedly caught with about 1.6kg of cocaine he’d allegedly hidden internally while entering Sydney.

ABF Superintendent Vesna Gavranich warned people against hiding drugs in their digestive systems as it is a serious health risk. 

Police said the woman passed eight of the pellets while travelling from Europe to Perth and re-swallowed them so they’d stay hidden

‘This type of disgusting behaviour is not worth the risk to your life,’ she said.

‘As the first line of defence for our community, the ABF, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to make it a hostile place for criminals involved in the importation of illegal drugs.’

AFP Commander Kate Ferry added smuggling drugs internally ‘is not only risking a substantial jail term but potentially a fatal drug overdose or permanent damage to their internal organs’.

‘The photographs of the seized pellets of drugs after they’ve been excreted should also highlight to drug users the disgusting reality of how these illicit substances are transported across the world,’ she said.