Australian woman arrested in Cambodia after heroin allegedly found in luggage

An Australian woman has been arrested at Phnom Penh airport with 1.8 kilograms of heroin hidden in her luggage, authorities in Cambodia say.

The AFP is working with Cambodian authorities who have arrested an Australian woman at Phnom Penh International Airport.

The AFP is working with Cambodian authorities who have arrested an Australian woman at Phnom Penh International Airport. Source: Cambodia General Department of Immigration

The AFP is working with Cambodian authorities who have arrested an Australian woman at Phnom Penh International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle almost two kilograms of heroin in her luggage.

Cambodia's immigration department allege on its official Facebook page that 1814 grams of heroin were found embedded in the side of Ve Thi Tran's suitcase in several different packages.

An immigration official at Phnom Penh airport, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to comment, claimed the 37-year-old was preparing to return to Australia via Hong Kong when she was arrested while checking in at the airport on Saturday.

An Australian woman has been charged with drug trafficking in Cambodia.
An Australian woman has been charged with drug trafficking in Cambodia. Source: Cambodia General Department of Immigration


The arrest followed a tip-off from the Australian Federal Police, which requested co-operation with Cambodia's immigration department in making the arrest, the official told AAP.

"The AFP can confirm it is working with Cambodian authorities on this matter," a spokesman told AAP in a statement.

"While inquiries continue no further comment will be made."

Tran is being questioned by Cambodia's anti-transnational crimes squad.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it's aware an Australian woman has been detained in Phnom Penh.

"We stand ready to offer consular assistance in accordance with the consular services charter," a spokeswoman said in a statement.


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