Tobacco wars and terrorism the biggest concerns for federal police in 2025

The Australian Federal Police says it is ramping up its efforts to thwart international organised crime across the country.

Potential terrorists, major players in Victoria’s escalating tobacco wars and huge drug busts are among the top concerns for federal police heading into the New Year.

After uncovering more than seven tonnes of drugs and bringing down a major tobacco smuggling ring in Victoria and Tasmania alone, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) says it will ramp up its efforts to thwart international organised crime across the country.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Hilda Sirec told the Herald Sun protecting the community from harm was the body’s biggest priority in 2025.

She said counter-terrorism units and Operation Abalight, the task force established in the wake of a suspected terror-related arson at a Ripponlea synagogue earlier this month, would be probing threats against the Jewish community throughout 2025.

Australian Federal Police Commander Hilda Sirec says the biggest priority for 2025 is protecting the community from harm. Picture: Richard Walker

“They’re working all the way through all days of the year, 365 days a year, 24/7 and making sure that we keep our community safe,” Ms Sirec said.

“We’re really looking to amplify the investigative effect and really targeting those individuals that are orchestrating this high harm.

“We’ll always leverage as much information intelligence out there so that we can disrupt violent offences before they happen.”

Throughout 2024, the AFP seized 94 guns across Victoria and Tasmania.

Forty of those were seized in a single bust after an investigation into a Russian organised crime figure who tried to flee Australia using a fake Dutch passport.

Meanwhile in February, a group of men with suspected links to the Haddara crime clan were busted for allegedly trying to smuggle $15m worth of illegal tobacco into Victoria from Vietnam.

The tobacco wars have escalated across Victoria, including this shop that was targeted in High St, Thornbury. Picture: Valeriu Campan

In August, the AFP charged four young men aged between 18 and 20 who allegedly tried to import 306kg of meth with a street value of $283m.

An American man and woman were also sentenced to two decades and 14 years behind bars respectively for attempting to smuggle the largest ever meth haul bound for Australia – more than 1.7 tonnes.

The bust was also the biggest domestic drug seizure out of the US.

Ms Sirec said the AFP would continue to help the Australian Border Force uncover illegal tobacco and drug shipments.

Seized tobacco displayed by the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force. Picture: David Crosling

“We know that a lot of this is derived from overseas criminal syndicates, and that’s certainly where the AFP are,” she said.

“We’ve got numerous offices across numerous countries to be able to identify where these commodities are coming from and put some effort into disrupting them.

“This really enhances our whole-of-government effect to be able to target these criminal syndicates by leveraging our international network.

“It’s never going to stop and that’s okay. We have the resolve and the dedication to continue on every single day of the year.”