At the NSW Trade Facilitation Forum Meeting held last Thursday, ABF congratulated industry on their assistance in providing key information which has led to major busts recently, saying they continue to seek industry’s assistance in reporting suspicious behaviour or activity.Â
October has seen some major wins for the ABF, including:
In Perth, ABF investigators smashed a steroid racket when they found 335 vials of performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) at a man’s suburban residence. Officers targeted the man after they had intercepted an international mail package from China in September. They raided his house seizing 335 vials, 10 bags of powder plus weapons.
In Sydney, Australia’s largest drug haul this year resulted in more than a tonne of crystal MDMA being seized and two Polish nationals, aged 28 and 29 are facing life behind bars. The 1.2 tonnes of crystal MDMA has an estimated street value of $145 million – this equates to more than 4.1 million ecstasy tablets. The investigation came as a result of intelligence received and working collaboratively with industry.
In Perth, investigators found over 750 kg of illegally imported tobacco, with a potential street value of up to $210,000 and up to $664,412 in duty evaded. ABF officers had targeted a consignment that arrived from Indonesia for inspection early in October, in which boxes, labelled as Aromatherapy Incense, contained more than 490 kilograms of ‘Al Fakher’ brand molasses tobacco. After raids on commercial premises and a residence, ABF seized a further 262 kilograms of tobacco and may lay additional charges on the importation of another 1859 kg of molasses tobacco with a street value of $520,000.Â
In Darwin, A 47-year-old man has been charged with the importation and possession of prohibited items including 12 Tasers, 3 pen-knives and 2 flick-knives plus 21 extendable baton parts. ABF officers at Darwin International Airport targeted the man for a baggage examination when he arrived on a flight from Manila on 11 October. ABF say it is an example of the work they are doing to deter, detect and disrupt illegal imports at the border.
In Sydney A 21-year-old Brazilian woman was charged with attempting to import approximately 2kg of cocaine. ABF officers at Sydney International Airport selected her for a baggage examination after she arrived on a flight from Chile and found a crystalline substance hidden in the lining of her suitcase. She was later charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine. The maximum plenty for this offence is life imprisonment.
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[Source: http://www.border.gov.au/]
