Australian woman who hid heroin in stomach held

SYDNEY - An Australian woman has been arrested here after she was found to have swallowed 41 balloons filled with heroin, a media report said Saturday.

Paramedics were called to a house about 3 a.m. Friday in Cabramatta, and treated a 37-year-old woman at the scene, AAP reported.

The woman was rushed to Liverpool Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery, during which doctors found 41 balloons of heroin, some of which had ruptured.

During a search of the house, police allegedly found another six balloons containing heroin as well as scales, documents, a diary and mobile phone sim cards.

About 100 gm of heroin, worth $45,000, was seized by police.

The woman was arrested and charged at Cabramatta Police Station at 1 p.m. Friday.

She was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court Saturday.

The woman had returned to Australia Oct 29 after holidaying in Vietnam.