French Woman Arrested in Australia With Drug Precursor in Bottles
A French woman traveling from Thailand was arrested at Perth Airport with bottles of shower cream containing butanediol, a banned chemical that converts to the party drug GHB in the body.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) have announced the arrest of a 31-year-old French woman charged with attempting to smuggle drugs and banned controlled substances into the country. The woman traveled from Thailand and was stopped by officials at Perth International Airport on May 29 for a baggage inspection. Officers discovered bottles labeled as shower cream, but upon examination found they contained butanediol, a banned chemical that converts to GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) when absorbed by the human body. GHB is classified at the same level as serious hard drugs. Authorities have initially charged her with importing drugs and controlled substances in commercial quantities, carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years imprisonment.