French passenger 'with drugs hidden in shower gel bottle' arrested at airport in Australia
A French passenger was arrested with drugs allegedly hidden in a shower gel bottle at an airport in Australia.
The 31-year-old woman, from Manning in Western Australia, was returning home from a trip to Thailand when she was flagged during routine screening at the Perth International Airport on May 29.
Australian Border Force officers found a small bottle labelled 'body wash' among her belongings. Testing later found it contained 50 grammes of the border-controlled drug, butanediol.
The substance is an industrial chemical used to make plastics, elastic fibres, solvents, and other manufacturing products. However, it is also used as a recreational drug as the body converts it into the notorious euphoria-inducing date-rape drug GHB.
ABF Superintendent John Eldridge said butanediol is deadly even in small doses.
He said: 'Butanediol is an extremely dangerous chemical solvent that the body converts to Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) when ingested, and just a few milligrams can result in death.
'Because it is so dangerous, Butanediol was declared a border-controlled drug in Australia in 2024, so when it is illegally imported it is considered to be on par with other more well-known drugs like methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.'
CCTV footage showed the woman, seen wearing a beige coat, being pulled aside by officers at the baggage screening area.
Authorities said images were also found on her phone, suggesting she was internally concealing more contraband.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) detained the woman, who later expelled 40 steroid tablets seized for testing.
The suspect was charged with one count of importing a marketable quantity of border-controlled drugs, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal said law enforcement remained vigilant in preventing illicit substances from entering Australia through airports.
He said in a statement: 'The AFP works closely with the ABF to ensure illicit substances don't make it through the arrivals gate.
'Anyone contemplating being involved in drug importation should be aware that this is a serious offence. The penalties can be severe , and those involved will be detected, arrested and held to account before the courts.'
The woman was set to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on June 26 - a day after a glamorous Thai Airways flight attendant was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle heroin into Australia.
Mina Kondo, 26, a Thai Airways flight attendant and beauty pageant queen, was arrested at Melbourne Airport on June 25 when her baggage was screened by Australian Border Force officers.
Officers checked her 12 tote bags and discovered a white powder concealed within the lining of the bags. It tested positive for heroin, with an estimated street value of AUD500,000.
Tall brunette Mina was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug and possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug, both of which carry a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.
She was remanded in custody on June 26 and is scheduled to reappear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 14.
