Organised crime syndicates have been losing their drug imports to Australian Customs seizure more than ever before this year – despite using increasingly sophisticated concealment methods inside shipments of commercial goods. What follows is the content of a joint media release between the ABF and AFP dated 12/12/2022.
Between 01 January and 18 November 2022, Australian Border Force (ABF) intercepted, and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) seized, 702 consignments, which were sent by air and sea cargo services, and contained illicit drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.
Some of the illicit drugs were found hidden in juke boxes, mini BBQ meat smoker machines, pens, magnets and timber pallets. Illicit drugs were also located in containers declared as rat poison and insecticide. ABF referred the matters to the AFP, which seized the drugs and launched respective investigations.
In February, authorities uncovered 2 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside a consignment of ponchos and bikinis sent from South America to Perth. The cocaine was allegedly embedded in the fibres of the clothing.
In addition, attempts to import illicit substances within timber pallets was also identified as a trend. In February, Operation Wirraway led to the arrest of a Brisbane man, after 83kg of methamphetamine was allegedly detected inside hollowed-out timber pallets in Queensland.
In June, 2022, a Victorian Joint Organised Crime Task Force (JOCTF) investigation led to a thwarted drug import attempt in Melbourne with an estimated 45kg of cocaine concealed inside a juke box from Greece. Three people were later arrested with a number of luxury items seized, including two Mercedes-Benz vehicles, a Harley Davidson motorbike, luxury watches and a significant quantity of cash.
While a 42-year-old man became the sixth person arrested and charged in relation to an alleged criminal syndicate in Melbourne. The June arrest followed an alleged import of liquid cocaine hidden inside marker pens and smoke machines.
In another attempt in July, a New South Wales man was arrested after he allegedly attempted to import a firearm – a Glock style pistol – that was detected hidden inside a gaming console shipped from the US to Australia.
The AFP slammed the brakes on one alleged criminal syndicate that attempted to import 66kg of cocaine, worth about $23.7 million, into Perth. ABF officers detected the drugs hidden inside Mercedes-Benz car tyres sent from Switzerland. Four West Australians were arrested in July connection to Operation Dommeldange.
In November, the AFP seized about 1.1 tonnes of cocaine from two shipping containers labelled as rat poison and insecticide that arrived in Sydney from Panama. ABF officers examined the containers and found about 550kg of cocaine inside each one.
AFP Commander Kate Ferry said organised criminal syndicates continued to devise creative concealment methods to avoid detection from law enforcement. “Unfortunately, Australia remains an attractive market for transnational serious organised criminal syndicates,” she said.
Read our related article Alarm at Record Drug Hauls in Commercial Shipments (Sept. 2022).
Anyone who imports a large quantity of methamphetamine or any other illicit drug into Australia risks life behind bars.
It is sometimes the case that shippers and consignees are unwittingly used by unscrupulous gangs to transport drugs. If you ever have reason to suspect that a shipment has been compromised, contact us immediately for advice.
Make sure all your transactions are within the law. As licensed Customs Brokers and International Freight Forwarders, Colless Young offers correct, professional advice on all your import and export cargo shipping needs. We provide a complete range of logistics services, for both air and sea freight, including fumigation, warehousing and trucking – through all Australian ports and airports.
