Australian Federal Police have uncovered a scam in which a Perth couple were unknowingly used as drug mules. 
 
 Police say the couple, aged 64 and 72, travelled to Canada after being told they had won a free holiday, including seven nights' accommodation and new luggage. 
 
 They became suspicious on their return to Perth and alerted Customs officers who found 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in each of their suitcases. 
 
 A 38-year-old Canadian man was arrested at Perth airport and has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine. 
 
 The case is part of a larger investigation by Australian police, freelance reporter Peter Hadfield told CBC News from Sydney today. 
 
 "There's a lot of Canadians involved in this, it seems," he told CBC's Heather Hiscox. "We’ve had eight arrests over the last 18 months." 
 
 Canadian ring 
 
 He added: "It was certainly a Canadian ring that was at the heart of it, and I imagine we'll be getting more details coming out as the weeks go on." 
 
 Cmdr. David Bachi of Australian police said they do not believe the couple was willingly involved. 
 
 "The investigation has revealed a complex and highly organized scam in which older Australians appear to be targeted by a bogus Canadian-based tour company identifying themselves as Auscan Tours," Bachi said. 
 
 "The organizers of this scam went to great lengths to provide a facade of legitimacy. 
 
 "Thankfully, the travellers contacted Customs and didn't dismiss their concerns, allowing us to make the arrest. 
 
 "We will continue working with local and international law enforcement partners, targeting all elements of this drug syndicate." 
 
 Travellers warned 
 
 "Victims of this scam or any persons who have received similar offers of travel should contact the AFP immediately." 
 
 Jan Hill, the director of Customs Airport Operations in Perth, warned travellers about carrying luggage on behalf of someone else, no matter the circumstance. 
 
 "If you've been asked to carry something on behalf of another person, make the right choice and alert local authorities," Hill said. 
 
 "Do not allow another person to pack your bag and do not carry luggage on behalf of another person." 
 
 Australian police say investigations into the incident are continuing. 
 
 The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment. 

 Video 
 
 Image Holiday drug mule scam Elderly Perth couple used as $7m drug mules after competition 'win'. 
 
 A PERTH couple who were unwittingly conned into become multi-million dollar drug mules after winning a dream trip to Canada feared they could have spent the rest of their lives in prison. 
 
 The elaborate con duped the couple by taking them to Canada as 'winners' of an all-expenses paid trip, which included accommodation and new luggage. 
 
 
 
 But after a dream week in North America, the couple became suspicious about their bags on their return to Western Australia and reported themselves to Customs. 
 
 
 
 Australian Customs discovered $7 million worth of methamphetamine in rock form in the luggage, with 3.5kg of the drug found hidden inside each case. 
 
 
 
 The 64-year-old woman, who only wants to be known as Sue, said they were looking online for a holiday, and after entering an online competition she was contacted. 
 
 
 
 "Be very careful if you win anything,'' Sue said. 
 
 
 
 "I could have ended up in jail for 25 years, and they could have ruined my life. 
 
 
 
 "So be very wary, be very careful and check everything out.'' 
 
 The cruel scam was uncovered by the AFP and Australian Customs officials earlier this month. 
 
 
 
 As reported on PerthNow, the alleged con involved a Canadian-based website targeting elderly Australian couples with the potential to win the all-expenses paid trip. 
 
 
 
 Authorities today detailed how the WA couple, a man aged 72 and woman, 64, were the "lucky'' winners. 
 
 
 
 The AFP will allege their luggage was swapped while in Canada, with the couple having no clue they were then being duped into carrying the drugs home. 
 
 
 
 The couple were due to be met on arrival, which set AFP officers into an investigation which led to a search warrant of a car and a room in Scarborough, where documents related to the con, more bags similar to the ones seized, and $15,000 in cash were found. 
 
 
 
 Australian Federal Police arrested a 38-year-old Canadian man at the airport that day and search warrants were carried out at a hotel in Scarborough. 
 
 
 
 The man was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. 
 
 
 
 AFP Perth Airport Police Commander David Bachi said further investigations revealed a complex and highly-organised scam, in which older Australians are being targeted by a bogus Canadian-based tour company identifying itself as 'AUSCAN Tours'. 
 
 
 
 "The organisers of this scam went to great lengths to provide a façade of legitimacy. Thankfully the travellers contacted Customs and didn't dismiss their concerns, allowing us to make the arrest," Commander Bachi said. 
 
 
 
 "We will continue working with local and international law enforcement partners, targeting all elements of this drug syndicate." 
 
 
 
 ACBPS director of airport operations in Perth, Jan Hill, warned travellers about carrying luggage on behalf of someone else. 
 
 
 
 "If you've been asked to carry something on behalf of another person, make the right choice and alert local authorities," Ms Hill said. 
 
 
 
 "Do not allow another person to pack your bag and do not carry luggage on behalf of another person." 
 
 
 
 Anyone who has been offered a similar travel offer, or who has been the victim of a similar scam is asked to call 131 AFP or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 
 
 - with AAP 
 
 Originally published as 

 Couple's 'holiday' prize to Canada makes them unwitting drug mules 
 
 (AFP) – Oct 25, 2013 
 
 Sydney — It seemed like a dream come true -- a free holiday to Canada complete with new luggage -- until the Australian couple involved realised they had unwittingly become drug mules. 
 
 Australian Federal Police on Friday said the pair, a 72-year-old man and 64-year-old woman, told Customs officials they had some concerns about their bags when they returned to Perth International Airport on October 13. 
 
 On examination, some 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds) of methamphetamine was found stashed within the lining of each bag, which police reportedly believe were swapped while in Canada. 
 
 "The Australian Federal Police will allege the couple were victims of an elaborate scam and were unwitting participants in the drug importation," police said in a statement. 
 
 Authorities said the scam by a bogus Canada-based tour company calling itself "AusCan Tours" apparently targeted older people, offering two tickets to Canada, seven nights' accommodation and new luggage as a prize. 
 
 "The organisers of this scam went to great lengths to provide a facade of legitimacy," Perth airport police commander David Bachi said. 
 
 "Thankfully the travellers contacted Customs and didn't dismiss their concerns, allowing us to make the arrest." 
 
 Authorities arrested a 38-year-old Canadian man at the airport the day the couple returned and have since charged him with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. 
 
 A raid on a hotel in the Perth suburb of Scarborough uncovered documents allegedly associated with the scam, along with electronic equipment, two suitcases (similar to the ones seized at the airport) and Aus$15,000 (US$14,422) in cash. 
 
 The Customs director at Perth airport, Jan Hill, warned travellers about carrying someone else's luggage. 
 
 "If you've been asked to carry something on behalf of another person, make the right choice and alert local authorities," she said. 
 
 "Do not allow another person to pack your bag and do not carry luggage on behalf of another person." 
 
 Copyright © 2013 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
– If an all-expenses paid trip to Canada, including accommodations and new luggage, sounds too good to be true, well, hindsight is 20/20. An Australian couple thought they'd won a dream vacation when they were revealed as the "lucky" winners of a contest they'd entered online. It turns out the competition, from bogus Canada-based tour company AusCan Tours, was effectively an application to be drug mules. When the Perth couple, ages 64 and 72, returned home to Australia a little suspicious about their bags, they alerted the airport's customs officials, who found $7 million in crystal meth stashed in the lining, the AFP reports. Australian police think the couple's luggage was switched in Canada. A Canadian was arrested in Perth—he was apparently supposed to meet the couple upon arrival—and a raid turned up suitcases similar to those seized, related documents, and $15,000 in cash. The scam, uncovered earlier this month, apparently targeted older people, and there are "a lot of Canadians involved in this," a reporter told the CBC, citing eight arrests over the last year and a half. Meanwhile, the victims are warning others: "Be very careful if you win anything," the woman told the Australian. "I could have ended up in jail for 25 years, and they could have ruined my life."