International students are being caught up in the drug trade by being implicated either by accident or on purpose into the drug trade. In 2011 alone there was quite a lot of ContactNT being imported mainly via Australia post.
This year alone about 50 kgs of drugs have been seized in NSW. These drugs were in parcels coming from Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Vietnam etc.
International students have often been asked to carry for someone else and some have been asked to be drug couriers just for the money. Sometimes drugs have been sent in the mail and International students were caught with them. They didn't know that it is in the mail.
ContactNT is a drug used to make cold and flu tablets and without a permit this is not allowed.
Customs thinks that this issue is important and said the following via Meld.
"Often international students, particularly those from China, are offered money to pick up what they think is an innocent package, but are then arrested by Customs and Border Protection and can either go to jail or be sent back to China, while the gang members reap all the money and evade detection.”
This issue is regarded as one of serious importance and should not be ignored by the Unis. The question is, are the unis doing enough to inform students to be wary?
RMIT doesn't tell their students to be wary of things like this on their site. But Meld had this story a while back and it prompted a write up from us. Melbourne Uni has a note on their site saying that it is illegal to bring drugs. Swinburne also don't tell their students about this problem either.
A tip: do pack your own bags.
Don't buy things on gumtree or other black market sites.
This is a very serious matter. Do not bring drugs into Australia. Don't accept parcels or bags from strangers.
If you know of someone that did you can call Customs Watch on 1800 06 1800. Calls can be made anonymously.
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| These images are of drugs being smuggled into the country. | Images courtesy of www.customs.gov.au. |
This year alone about 50 kgs of drugs have been seized in NSW. These drugs were in parcels coming from Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Vietnam etc.
International students have often been asked to carry for someone else and some have been asked to be drug couriers just for the money. Sometimes drugs have been sent in the mail and International students were caught with them. They didn't know that it is in the mail.
ContactNT is a drug used to make cold and flu tablets and without a permit this is not allowed.
Customs thinks that this issue is important and said the following via Meld.
"Often international students, particularly those from China, are offered money to pick up what they think is an innocent package, but are then arrested by Customs and Border Protection and can either go to jail or be sent back to China, while the gang members reap all the money and evade detection.”
This issue is regarded as one of serious importance and should not be ignored by the Unis. The question is, are the unis doing enough to inform students to be wary?
RMIT doesn't tell their students to be wary of things like this on their site. But Meld had this story a while back and it prompted a write up from us. Melbourne Uni has a note on their site saying that it is illegal to bring drugs. Swinburne also don't tell their students about this problem either.
A tip: do pack your own bags.
Don't buy things on gumtree or other black market sites.
This is a very serious matter. Do not bring drugs into Australia. Don't accept parcels or bags from strangers.
If you know of someone that did you can call Customs Watch on 1800 06 1800. Calls can be made anonymously.
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