Four Canadian residents facing drug smuggling charges in Melbourne

One of the bags of heroin four Canadian residents allegedly tried to smuggle into Australia. (Courtesy ACBPS)

Four young Canadian residents with apparent links to B.C. have been arrested in Melbourne, Australia for allegedly trying to smuggle five million dollars worth of drugs into the country.

On Monday, Nov. 18 Australian Customs and Border Protection Service agents at Melbourne Airport identified the four, who were carrying two bags each, for examination after they’d arrived on a flight from China.

“The officers felt the bags were a little bit heavy after they had been emptied,” said Herald Sun court reporter Shannon Deery, who has been following the story in Melbourne. “An X-ray of the luggage found a white powder that had been built into the bottom of the bag.”

The powder tested positive for heroin – 17 kilograms total - and police arrested 21-year-old Jason Singh, 20-year-old Tyrell Brown, 19-year-old Madison Trim and a 17-year-old suspect who is too young to identify.

They are all facing charges of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

CTV News found Facebook pages matching the names of the accused who all live in the Metro Vancouver area.

“They are all facing life imprisonment, the toughest sentence you can get here in Australia,” Deery said. “It is a crime authorities want to stamp out completely.”

Spokesperson for ACBPS Dean Hogarth said in a press release the “seizure was a significant one for Melbourne Airport.”

“This was a sophisticated operation, involving multiple people and numerous bags,” Hogarth said.

“Despite its sophistication, Customs and Border Protection officers have again stopped a significant amount of heroin reaching our communities.”

The four are being held in custody until their next court appearance in February.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Shannon Paterson