A 31-year-old US woman has been arrested in Sydney after authorities allegedly discovered 20 kilograms of cocaine hidden in her luggage. The drugs, valued at 6.5 million Australian dollars (around $4.2 million), were seized during a baggage check after her flight from Los Angeles.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) said officers found 14 black vacuum-sealed packages concealed in the woman&rsquo;s bags. Tests later confirmed the substance as cocaine.
She was formally charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
AFP Superintendent Morgen Blunden warned that the risks far outweigh the rewards for drug smugglers. &ldquo;People considering smuggling drugs through our airports need to think about the consequences of their actions. If caught, you will face losing some of the best years of your life sitting in a prison cell,&rdquo; he said.
He added that the seized cocaine could have fueled as many as 100,000 street-level deals. &ldquo;The AFP and ABF are still regularly finding and arresting people willing to risk decades in jail by trafficking illicit drugs through our airports,&rdquo; Blunden noted.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the case, which they say highlights the ongoing threat of international drug trafficking networks targeting Australia&rsquo;s borders.

US Woman Caught With 20 Kg Cocaine in Sydney

AFP, ABF seize $4.2M worth of cocaine at Sydney Airport; woman faces life sentence

US Woman Caught With 20 Kg Cocaine in Sydney

AFP, ABF seize $4.2M worth of cocaine at Sydney Airport; woman faces life sentence

September 9, 2025 | 15:36 IST