Cooktown man charged after allegedly receiving 500 counterfeit AFP badges

A 66-year-old Queensland man has been charged with several offences by the Australian Federal Police after he allegedly received an order of 500 counterfeit police badges from China.

A North Queensland man has been charged with several offences by the Australian Federal Police after he allegedly received an order of 500 counterfeit police badges from China.

The 66-year-old was charged with impersonating a Commonwealth public official and importing fake Australian Federal Police badges as part of an ongoing operation.

Police will allege the man was a member of a group which came to police attention after a video circulated on social media that claimed to be a recording of the AFP Commissioner.

During the footage the would-be Commissioner detailed plans to overthrow the Federal Government.

As a result of the investigation a Perth man was charged in August and a Peterborough woman was charged in September 2021.

It will be alleged the Cooktown man was delivered 500 counterfeit AFP badges from China.

A total of 470 badges have been recovered by police so far.

The man faced Cooktown Circuit Court on Tuesday and was granted bail. He is next scheduled to appear on July 13.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Scott Lee said the AFP was continuing to investigate the matter and Tuesday’s arrest reflected the seriousness of the allegations.