Huge drug imports stopped as ‘concealment’ evolves

Organised crime syndicates are having their drug shipments seized despite increasingly sophisticated concealment methods, with more than 700 imports stopped this year.

Organised crime syndicates are having their drug shipments seized despite increasingly sophisticated concealment methods, with more than 700 imports stopped this year.

Cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine in 702 consignments sent by air and sea cargo were intercepted by the Australian Border Force and seized by Australian Federal Police between January and November 18.

Drugs were found in jukeboxes, mini BBQ meat smoker machines, pens, magnets, timber pallets and in containers declared as rat poison and insecticide.

The ABF referred the matters to the AFP. The drugs were seized and investigations launched.

Syndicates attempting to import drugs within timber pallets has been identified by authorities as a trend.

A Brisbane man was arrested after 83kg of methamphetamine was allegedly detected inside hollowed-out timber pallets in Queensland in Operation Wirraway.

The AFP alleges the drugs were found after an x-ray examination of one of 24 timber pallets.

The Australian Federal Police say they found drugs hidden inside timber pallets as part of operation Wirraway. A Brisbane man was arrested.

In a separate case, authorities allegedly found 2kg of cocaine hidden inside a consignment of ponchos and bikinis, sent from South America to Perth, in February. The drugs were allegedly embedded in the fibres of the clothing.

Authorities allegedly found 2kg of cocaine hidden inside a consignment of ponchos and bikinis, sent from South America to Perth, in February. The drugs were allegedly embedded in the fibres of the clothing.

In June an estimated 45kg of cocaine was allegedly hidden inside a jukebox from Greece which was found after a Victorian Joint Organised Crime Task Force (JOCTF) investigation.

Three people were arrested and two Mercedes-Benz vehicles were seized along with a Harley Davidson motorbike, luxury watches and cash.

Australia Federal Police seizure involving jukebox

Another syndicate allegedly attempted to import 66kg of cocaine worth $23.7m into Perth, hiding the drugs inside Mercedes-Benz car tyres which had been sent from Switzerland.

Four Australians were arrested in July.

Australia Federal Police seizure involving Mercedes-Benz tyres

In another importation, 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 in November.

Officers found 550kg of cocaine in each container.

Aside from drug seizures, authorities also arrested a New South Wales man after he allegedly tried to import a Glock firearm which was detected hidden in a gaming console sent from the US to Australia.

A New South Wales man was arrested after he allegedly tried to import a Glock firearm which was detected hidden in a gaming console sent from the US to Australia.

AFP Commander Kate Ferry said organised crime syndicates were continuing to devise “creative concealment methods” to avoid law enforcement detection.

“Unfortunately, Australia remains an attractive market for transnational serious organised criminal syndicates,” she said.

“We know that these syndicates are relentless in their attempts to flood our shores with their illicit substances and their sole motivation is greed and profit.

“The AFP and our state and Commonwealth law enforcement partners are under no illusions over the lengths criminals will go to in their attempts evolve their concealment methods in order to import harmful drugs into our country.

“Our message is clear: your efforts will fail – we are a step ahead. We are keeping watch and ready to act. We’re here to remind you that the AFP and its partners continue to target and disrupt your criminal operations and we will bring you to justice.”

ABF Commander James Copeman said ABF officers had “seen it all” in relation to the creative attempts at concealing drugs when trying to bring them into Australia.

“Our highly-trained officers have a wide range of capabilities at their disposal to locate concealments of illicit drugs, informed by intelligence and sophisticated technology, to target and detect illicit drugs at Australia’s border,” Commander Copeman said.

“There have been some significant detections throughout 2022, but this is a marathon, not a sprint and we remain focused on disrupting any attempt by criminal syndicates to make money off the misery and harm these drugs cause in our community.”