Department of Home Affairs scramble to remove ads offering coke, meth linked to its website

A federal government department is scrambling to remove a “manipulated” Google search leading to their site with advertising to buy illicit drugs including cocaine. See the ads.

A federal government department is scrambling to fix Google search “manipulation” which can send users to a URLs advertising illegal contraband.

Searches for The Department of Home Affairs’ Immigration and citizenship website along with the phrase “drug crime buy” bring up links to the search engine of their site displaying URLs advertising cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines for purchase from external domains.

The Department was alerted this week to the strange search result by the Bulletin but 24 hours later the links are still accessible to the general public.

A Departmental spokesman said they were aware of the issue and working to resolve it.

“The Department of Home Affairs is aware of Google search results being manipulated by unknown actors repeatedly amending the search field of immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

“Department of Home Affairs sites have not been hacked and remain secure. The Department is liaising with Google to address this matter,” they said.

Screenshots of the Department of Home Affairs website displaying advertisements for illegal contraband.

The Google search of ‘immi.homeaffairs.gov.au drugs crime buy’ yields several links boasting “premium merchandise” ready for purchase of illegal substances such as “meth cocaine” and “cocaine”.

Screenshots displaying advertisements for illegal contraband on a Department of Home Affairs’ Immigration and citizenship replica website, taken on May 17.

The URL urges users to add the “high-end goods” to their “shopping cart”.

Screenshots of the Department of Home Affairs website displaying advertisements for illegal contraband.

Originally published as Department of Home Affairs scramble to remove ads offering coke, meth linked to its website