Shiploads of drugs: Border Force’s new underwater probe

International drug syndicates are going to extreme measures to bring cocaine into the state as authorities reveal the technology they’re using to tackle global syndicates. WATCH THE VIDEO

International drug syndicates are smuggling cocaine into Queensland in sea chests and attaching packages to cargo ships in extreme operations to get drugs ashore.

It comes as the Australian Border Force (ABF) brace for a 70 per cent increase in cargo coming to the nation’s waters over the next decade, bringing with it the threat of more illicit drugs hidden onboard ships.

But a vital new piece of technology added to the ABF arsenal is allowing officers to check cargo ships for suspicious packages in just 40 minutes and stopping drugs from hitting the streets.

The Courier-Mail was granted exclusive access to an ABF operation off the coast of Mooloolaba, where the new underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) was deployed.

The high-tech ROV – worth about $150,000 – is fitted with a high-definition camera and sonar equipment to screen ship hulls, sea chests and voids to detect any suspicious packages hidden below the waterline.

Australian Border Force patrol off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast. Pictured, Tim and Sheryl – small vessel team marine operations. Photo: Patrick Woods.

Australian Border Force patrol of shipping vessels off the coast of Mooloolaba looking for possible drug shipments.

ABF Queensland Operations Acting Commander Troy Sokoloff said the kit was absolutely crucial to protecting the 14,000km sq of Queensland coastline.

“It’s fantastic, we know that cargo is going to increase by 70 per cent over the next decade and more vessels will come into our ports,” Commander Sokoloff said.

“On-water detections are our largest drug detection, it does represent a really high risk to the community, it is a big responsibility for us and one we take it very seriously.

“It’s a very big concern for us in terms of the fact we have had a number of on water detections …. so we need to work smarter, not harder.”

Australian Border Force patrol off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Australian Border Force patrol off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Between June and December last year, ABF intercepted more than 1200 attempts to smuggle cocaine into Australia, including a massive 2.34 tonne bust worth about $760 million.

In November, 11 men and two juveniles were arrested over the operation after ABF tracked a fishing boat making a trip to a mothership off the Queensland coastline.

While returning to the mainland, the fishing boat broke down near K’gari and officials allegedly found 51 bales with roped netting – each containing about 40kg of cocaine.

ABF team leader Tim Toy said syndicates were going to extreme lengths to bring drugs into the country.

Australian Border Force patrol of shipping vessels off the coast of Mooloolaba looking for possible drug shipments.

“They go to great lengths to conceal it so that’s why we go to extreme lengths to try and find it,” Mr Toy said.

The new ROV gives officials the ability to scan the hull of a ship in about 40 minutes – a capability Mr Toy said they’ve never had before.

“We are able to go up and down the coast from Brisbane to Cairns, anchorages, intercept commercial vessels and check hulls up and down the coast

“It’s vital to be able to intercept narcotics at the border.”

Australian Border Force patrol off Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast. Pictured, James – small vessel team marine operations. Photo: Patrick Woods.

Commander Sokoloff said Australians were paying some of the highest prices in the world for cocaine, and drug kingpins wanted to keep it that way.

“Syndicates are actively working to make sure those prices remain high, so it’s a constant risk and it increases the risk for us,” Commander Sokoloff said.