Melbourne Court Delays Armina Hearing, Remands for October 12
Thai Airways flight attendant Armina, 26, remains in custody after a Melbourne court postponed her heroin smuggling case to October 12, with prosecutors and defence seeking time to negotiate a settlement. She was arrested in June with over
Melbourne Magistrates Court postponed the case of Armina, a Thai Airways flight attendant accused of smuggling heroin into Australia, after prosecutors and defence counsel requested additional time to negotiate a resolution. Armina, 26, appeared before Judge Kieran Gilligan on September 14, and both sides sought an adjournment to continue settlement discussions. Judge Gilligan approved the request and ordered Armina's continued remand, with the next court date set for October 12.
Armina was arrested at Melbourne Airport on June 25 after Australian federal police detected heroin valued at approximately 500,000 US dollars hidden in her luggage. Officers discovered just over one kilogram of heroin concealed in the linings of 12 tote bags during an X-ray screening of her belongings. She faces charges of importing a commercial quantity of illegal drugs and possessing a commercial quantity of illegal drugs, each carrying a maximum 25-year prison sentence if convicted.
Clint Simms, commander of the Australian Border Force, warned that international criminal networks deliberately target airline crew members as smuggling channels. "Anyone attempting to import illegal drugs into Australia, regardless of their position or status, will be investigated and face the full force of the law," Simms said. He added that the ABF remains vigilant against insider threats and will continue detecting and disrupting such activities to protect Australia's border security and communities.
