BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia - Two French girls barely out of high school remain behind bars after their arrival into Australia's Brisbane International Airport on Tuesday.

The pair are facing drug trafficking charges. Aged only 19 and twenty, the two girls were taken into custody soon after touching down in Australia, after a search of their luggage found 32 individually-wrapped bricks of white powder. Examination of the powder returned a presumptive test for methamphetamine.

They were targeted by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers following intelligence reports and their adoption of travel patterns similar to a previous group of 4 women charged last week, two of whom had arrived at Brisbane Airport from overseas. The similarities, particularly a multi-leg route into Australia, prompted closer scrutiny of the pair's arrival.

The girls appeared before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with importing the meth, valued at $29 million, and the equivalent of 320,000 drug deals on the street.

The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.

The girls were both remanded into custody to reappear on 5 September, 2025.  

"The AFP's collaboration with ABF and other law enforcement agencies is critical to stopping offenders from bringing harmful drugs into our country," AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Natalie Scott said Sunday. 

"The aim of the AFP is to protect Australians and disrupt criminal efforts that bring them to our shores."

"It's not the first time this month I've provided this message, but I cannot be clearer – anyone who attempts to import drugs will be stopped and met with the full force of the law,"  the AFP acting superintendent said.

Acting ABF Commander Troy Sokoloff said it was a textbook detection by frontline officers, who acted on clear warning signs and solid intelligence. 

"Our highly skilled officers at Brisbane Airport were able to act swiftly thanks to the exceptional efforts of our National Border Targeting Centre," Acting Commander Sokoloff said Sunday.

"It is extremely unlikely these young women were acting alone – and rather that they were part of a broader network, and this result sends a clear message that ABF will continue to detect and disrupt these syndicates." 

"This is now six young women in less than two weeks detected by ABF officers at Brisbane Airport. Our officers are alert to these trends and will continue to adapt and respond decisively as we work hand in glove with AFP to disrupt and investigate," Acting Commander Sokoloff said.

For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to the Turning Point website.