Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Border Force deports flight attendant over attempted cigarettes smuggling

An Indonesian flight attendant who tried to smuggle cartons of cigarettes into Australia has been caught by Border Force officers and sent home.

The airline flight attendant at Perth Airport.

The airline flight attendant at Perth Airport. Source: Australian Border Force

A flight attendant has been refused entry to Australia after being caught trying to smuggle 10 cartons of cigarettes through Perth Airport.

The Indonesian woman arrived on a flight from Denpasar on Tuesday night, and before her bag was screened, she was seen going into a toilet block where she was caught dumping cartons of cigarettes into a bin.

The 50-year-old woman's visa was cancelled and she was sent back to Indonesia on Wednesday morning.

The 10 cartons contained 2000 cigarettes, but the maximum allowance for cigarettes being brought into Australia is 25.

The duty evaded was about $1700, Australian Border Force said.

"Tobacco smuggling is one of the ABF's operational priorities, whether it be by organised crime syndicates or individual profiteers such as in this case," Commander Rod O'Donnell said.


1 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world