She was covertly flown back to Sydney early yesterday. The month-long operation was so secretive that senior government officials were only told on a “need to know” basis.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop played a hand in Ms Davis’ release / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Ms Bishop oversaw the negotiations between Chinese authorities and Department of Foreign Affairs staff at the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou. She kept the deal under wraps to avoid any publicity that could have ­torpedoed the delicate ­negotiations.

Ms Davis, 22, of Glenmore Park, was ­arrested with a Richmond man, Peter Gardner, on November 5 after Chinese customs officers allegedly found the illicit drugs — with a street value of about $80 million — in their checked-in baggage in Guangzhou. Ms Davis had met Mr Gardner, a New Zealand citizen, on dating app Tinder just weeks earlier.

Ms Davis and Mr Gardiner travelled to China on November 5. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Peter Gardiner Source: Supplied

She faced the prospect of being executed by a Chinese firing squad if charged and convicted of drug trafficking.

Australian consulate staff in China spent more than three weeks in painstaking negotiations with the Chinese government to prove Ms Davis had no knowledge of alleged plans to export the illicit drugs out of China. The talks, which ­included roles from Bell Lawyers at Penrith and Chinese firm Wang Jing, continued every day since DFAT was ­notified of the incident.

Australia has a good relationship with China. The federal government has done what the US could not — ­secured a free-trade agreement. The Chinese President even ­addressed federal parliament while Ms Davis was being ­detained in China.

Larry Davis leaves his Glenmore Park home yesterday afternoon /Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

DFAT officials thought they had a chance, but it had to be done properly.

It was predominantly a ­departmental operation. Ms Bishop was briefed every step of the way.

She didn’t let slip to the media. She shut the story down at every chance. DFAT appointed Canberra-based Claire Went to be the family’s liaison.

There were good days when it looked like Ms Davis would be released and days when it did not look so good.

Drug-trafficking can potentially carry the death penalty in China or life imprisonment.

But Ms Went helped the family hold together. Every step of the way.

“Without the support of Ms Went we would not have been able to get through this difficult time,’’ Ms Davis’ parents, Larry and Jenny, said in a statement yesterday.

Family lawyer Paul Blunt addresses the media / Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

It is understood Chinese authorities were comfortable Ms Davis was unaware of the drugs in the bags and were content to allow her to be ­released without further retribution in Australia.

Mr Gardner, who lives in Richmond but remains a New Zealand citizen, is still being held in China.

The New Zealand government is working with Chinese authorities in Beijing to determine his ­future.

It is not clear whether he will be charged.

“The Consul-General has visited Mr Gardner in the ­detention centre to check on his wellbeing. He has legal representation,” a New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said.

Ms Davis, the daughter of a former NSW police officer, had lived with her family in the quiet neighbourhood of Glenmore Park, in Sydney’s northwest. She studied at Penrith Anglican College before ­moving to Penrith Christian College, where she was a ­talented athlete and promising basketballer.

Kalynda Davis / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Kalynda Davis / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Her parents yesterday confirmed their daughter was back home and declared her release had indicated her innocence.

“We are happy to have Kalynda back home,’’ they said. “We have always known Kalynda to be innocent of these ­allegations. Her return home today is a clear statement of her innocence.”

Outside the family home late yesterday, two family members, believed to be Ms Davis’ grandparents, told The Daily Telegraph: “Of course we’re relieved.”

They said they were yet to see Kalynda and declined to comment further.

Ms Davis had not told anyone she was intending to travel to China with Mr Gardner and was reported missing on ­November 5, the day she left for Guangzhou.

Ms Bishop was at a climate change conference in Peru last night and could not be contacted for comment.

Ms Davis’ family yesterday expressed hopes that Mr Gardner, 25, would also be released.

“To the family of Mr Peter Gardner, we will continue to pray for Peter and your family. You are always in our thoughts,’’ the Davis family statement said.

Friends of Mr Gardner took to social media to defend their mate yesterday.

“While I despise what he did, I think ice is a f***ed drug, I feel for his family, he won’t be coming back anything (sic) soon,” one friend said.

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Source: DailyTelegraph

AUSSIES STILL FACE DEATH IN CHINA

Ashlee Mullany

THOUSANDS of prisoners, including many foreign nationals, are believed to be executed each year in China. And at least nine Australians are behind bars waiting to learn their fate.

Under China’s harsh drug laws, anyone caught with even a small amount of an illicit substance faces the possibility of execution, usually by firing squad.

In July this year, two Ugandans were executed after being found guilty of trafficking $2.6 million worth of cocaine.

The men’s bodies were cremated and their ashes sent back to their families in Uganda, a confronting r­eminder of the country’s unforgiving drug laws.

Earlier this year, authorities executed two South ­Korean nationals who were found guilty of smuggling the drug ice into China from North Korea.

It is understood as many as nine Australians are also facing possible execution for drug charges.

Chinese authorities stepped up their drug operations in recent years following a surge in the production and trafficking of ice, otherwise known as methamphetamine.

The anti-drugs sweep has netted several tonnes of ice, resulting in hundreds of arrests of Chinese nationals and foreigners.

More than 100 African nationals have also been caught in major busts and airports stings.

In September, Jackie Chan’s son became the highest-profile person to be swept up in the anti-drug campaign, arrested on suspicion of allowing other people to consume drugs — a charge that carries a maximum three-year jail term.

There is little information available on the number of executions carried out in China, but ­Amnesty International estimates the country carries out more executions than the rest of the world combined each year.