UPDATE: Meena Kondo remanded in Melbourne on two alleged drug charges

Meena Kondo, 26, remains in custody in Melbourne after prosecutors and defence lawyers jointly sought more time in a case involving alleged heroin concealed in 12 tote bags.

Melbourne Magistrates’ Court adjourned Kondo’s case on 14 September 2026 until 12 October while the lawyers continued what they described as “resolution discussions”, The Nation reported. Magistrate Kieran Gilligan reportedly described the development as “encouraging” and remanded Kondo in custody. No agreed plea or sentence was reported.

Kondo has been held since her arrest at Melbourne Airport on 25 June 2026, when she arrived for duty. A joint statement from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF), issued on 29 June, said she had arrived while working on an international flight.

The ABF said officers detected irregularities during X-ray screening of 12 tote bags and found white powder concealed in the linings. The AFP and ABF said preliminary tests indicated heroin. The Phuket News reported that Kondo had reportedly been hired to carry the bags from Thailand to Australia.

The Nation reported that the AFP charged Kondo with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug and possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug. Each count carries a maximum prison term of 25 years if she is convicted.

The figures reported for the seizure differ. The Nation’s account, citing preliminary AFP and ABF figures, said more than 1 kilogramme had been seized and gave the estimated street value as A$500,000. The Phuket News reported 1.8 kilogrammes and a street value of B11.5 million, citing Australian authorities. The reports do not reconcile the different quantity and value estimates.

The Nation reported that Thai Airways suspended Kondo after her arrest and opened a fact-finding and disciplinary inquiry. The airline said it would co-operate with Australian authorities without intervening in the legal process and could dismiss her if wrongdoing were established. It also said it was coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure she received her basic legal rights, reiterated its prohibition on staff involvement with narcotics and promised decisive action if misconduct was confirmed.

The supplied reports use different descriptions of Kondo’s employment. The Phuket News called her a former THAI stewardess, while The Nation described her as a Thai Airways flight attendant or crew member. The reports do not establish her definitive current employment status.

The Phuket News also reported that Thai investigators had arrested suspects alleged to have formed a drug-trafficking network that recruited people, including flight attendants, to carry goods containing concealed drugs to other countries.