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Teens caught with drug condoms
24/06/2005 13:21 - (SA)
Hong Kong - A 17-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy from Sydney were on Friday remanded in custody in Hong Kong, accused of trying to smuggle $775 000 of heroin into Australia.
Hairdresser Rachel Ann Diaz and McDonald's worker Chris Ha Vo were arrested in hotel room in April as they were allegedly about to try to swallow more than 100 condoms and glove fingers filled with the drug.
A third suspect, 21-year-old Hutchison Tran, also from Sydney, was arrested at a separate location. All three were charged with drug trafficking and face up to 20 years' jail in Hong Kong if found guilty.
The arrests come at a time when there is a huge price disparity between Hong Kong and Australia in drug prices, with heroin selling for 20 times as much in Sydney as the former British colony.
In Hong Kong's Kowloon City Court on Friday, all three defendants were remanded in custody until July 29 when their case is due to be committed to the Hong Kong High Court. No pleas were entered.
The father of Diaz travelled to Hong Kong from Australia for Friday's hearing. He refused to speak to reporters.
According to prosecution sources, Diaz changed her mind and refused to swallow the drugs moments before police burst into the hotel room in April.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign and Trade Affairs, which has been monitoring the case, said of the defendants: "They're all bearing up pretty well." - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA
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