Latest news with #NatalieScott
Perth Now
13-07-2025
- Perth Now
French women charged over meth import
Two French women have been arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle 32kg of meth, valued at $29m, into Brisbane Airport. The two women, aged 19 and 20, were stopped by Australian Border Force officers on Tuesday, July 9, as they arrived at Brisbane International Airport from Southeast Asia. Two French women have been arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle 32kg of meth into Brisbane Airport. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire Their movements were flagged by ABF officers, who recognised a similar travel pattern to the four women who were charged last week with attempting to smuggle 30kg of cocaine wrapped in spicy towels. The ABF said the women's' multi-leg route into Australia prompted them to pay closer attention to the pair's movements and arrival. The women were pulled aside by the Australian Border Force. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire Upon inspecting the bags of the French women, officers discovered 32 individually wrapped bricks of white powder. Examination of the powder returned a positive result for methamphetamine. 'This seizure has an estimated street value of $29m and could equate to 320,000 individual straight deals,' AFP Acting Superintendent Natalie Scott said. Both women were charged with one count each of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled substance. 'They face life imprisonment if convicted,' Superintendent Scott said. The street value of the meth is estimated to fetch almost $30m. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire The women could face life imprisonment. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire The pair appeared before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 9 and were remanded in custody. They are expected to face court again on September 5. ABF Commander Troy Sokoloff said it was 'extremely unlikely' the women were acting alone in the operation. 'Our highly skilled officers at Brisbane Airport were able to act swiftly thanks to the exceptional efforts of our National Border Targeting Centre,' he said. 'It is extremely unlikely these young women were acting alone – 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 four 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.' QLD drug helpline
RNZ News
05-07-2025
- RNZ News
Four women arrested over alleged cocaine-smuggling plot involving towels soaked in vinegar, chilli
By Lottie Twyford , ABC Photo: AAP Police have charged four women in Brisbane over an alleged failed attempt to import 30kg of cocaine into Australia. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege two 18-year-olds tried to smuggle drugs wrapped in towels soaked in vinegar and chilli. The pair were stopped by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers, when they arrived in Brisbane on a flight from Hong Kong on 3 July. Four suitcases were searched and police say they contained 20 bricks of a white substance, which allegedly returned a positive result for cocaine. They were each charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled substance. Two other women, whom police allege provided them with instructions relating to obtaining passports, airline tickets and accommodation, have also been arrested. The 23-year-old and a 21-year-old have been charged with one count each of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. Both offences carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. Police say all four women appeared before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday and three were granted bail. One of the 18-year-olds was refused bail. All are expected to return to court in July. AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Natalie Scott said criminals would go to great and sometimes novel lengths to import drugs into the country. "The AFP and ABF work closely every day to disrupt criminal efforts to bring harmful drugs into our country," she said. "Anyone who attempts to import drugs will be stopped and met with the full force of the law." The AFP urges anyone who sees suspicious behaviour at airports to report it. - ABC
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
PPG recognizes GNE Paint & Supplies Inc. as 2024 Automotive Refinish Platinum Distributor of the Year
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio, March 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced that it has named GNE Paint & Supplies Inc. of Detroit as its Automotive Refinish 2024 Platinum Distributor of the Year. The award recognizes a distributor with exceptional service, loyalty, product knowledge and support as part of the PPG PLATINUM DISTRIBUTOR® program. Natalie Scott, PPG director, PPG Platinum Distributor program, U.S. and Canada, Automotive Refinish, presented the award to Chris Brideau, owner of GNE Paint & Supplies Inc., during PPG's annual Platinum Distributor Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony, held last month in San Antonio, Texas. "Chris and the team's commitment to innovation, resilience and strategic vision have set the standard for success and made a significant impact in our industry," said Scott. "We present the Platinum Distributor of the Year award to a partner who has not only attained the All Goals Of The Year achieved (AGOTY) status but has also demonstrated exceptional year-over-year growth among their peers over the past five years. It's a prestigious honor." GNE Paint & Supplies Inc. operates two locations in the Detroit metropolitan area and offers a full line of PPG's Automotive Refinish products. The company joined the PPG Platinum Distributor network in 1995. "A true team accomplishment – we're honored to be awarded the title of 2024 Platinum Distributor of the Year," said Brideau. "Defining our success can only be done by recognizing each and every GNE team member, our business partnerships and our relationship with PPG. Thank you to PPG for this prestigious recognition and award." The PPG Platinum Distributor program started as a loyalty and support initiative for PPG single-line distributors, aiming to provide outstanding performance, service and benefits to customers of PPG's automotive refinish business. The program delivers competitive advantages to participants by aligning PPG's technology, training and customer support with entrepreneurship, customer awareness, local market knowledge and the service capability of independent distributors. To learn more about PPG's Automotive Refinish business and the PPG Platinum Distributor program, call 1 800 647 6050, or visit PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD® At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.8 billion in 2024. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit PPG Platinum Distributor, the PPG Logo and We Protect and Beautify the World are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. CATEGORY Automotive Refinish View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Samantha AllenAutomotive Refinish+1 440 334 Sign in to access your portfolio
