Teens in trouble
Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
Australian authorities recently warned that high school students were being recruited by international drug syndicates to help them bring illicit substances into Australia.
Read the following story from the Bangkok Post to learn more about this pressing problem.
The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service said on November 25 that students were allegedly asked to reveal their home addresses so that they could collect parcels containing drug precursors, reportedly from China, in exchange for a few hundred dollars.
“In this type of situation, a student is approached by criminals and tricked by an offer of earning easy money to pick up or receive a package concealing an illegal substance,” regional director Tim Fitzgerald said. “They collect or take delivery of the goods and pass them on to the criminals.”
DODGY DELIVERY
In a case uncovered by authorities this year, two Sydney-based teenagers were allegedly paid several hundred dollars to accept parcels — one of which held 4 kilogrammes of ephedrine, enough to make A$250,000 (7.3 million baht) of the drug crystal methamphetamine, or ya ice.
HIDDEN DANGERS
Tim said that while the parcels looked harmless, substances were hidden inside the contents. He warned students against accepting offers that they might see on social networking sites or receive via text message.
“They’ve got general goods inside them, but within those goods are concealed substances such as ephedrine, which are used to make illegal drugs,” Tim told broadcaster ABC. “The syndicates often tell students that because of their age, they won’t be held legally responsible, but that is completely incorrect.”