The names of corrupt Australian customs and border staff revealed

A corruption report that has been under wraps for eight years has finally been released revealing corrupt Aussie customs and border officers. See who they are.

Exclusive: A corruption watchdog report into the former Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, now Australian Border Force, has finally been released revealing a group of 26 customs and border officers and their associates had faced charges in just a couple of years and another five were investigated but not charged.

The report, by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity’s (ACLEI) former Commissioner Philip Moss, which has been kept under wraps for eight years, warned that “it will take a long time, perhaps a decade, to entrench the required professional standards”.

It details how Operation Heritage investigated a small group of Australian Customs and Border Protection staff at Sydney International Airport suspected of corruption and abusing their positions.

A subsequent AFP investigation, Operation Marca, widened the investigation to their criminal associates and their actions.

Eight Customs officers were charged and seven were convicted with crimes from providing false information, aiding drug precursor importations, receiving bribes, and dishonestly influence a public official.

Mr Moss revealed that in just two years another 18 associates had been charged.

“A further five ACBPS officers faced disciplinary action. I regard these actions – including the prosecution of perjury offences arising from the Integrity Commissioner’s hearings – to be an important part of achieving cultural change in the ACBPS,” Mr Moss wrote.

Former Australian Border Force leader Craig Richard Eakin was jailed for four years for helping a syndicate smuggle illegal tobacco and cigarettes into the country. Picture: John Grainger

A response on behalf of the Australian Border Force said: “It is important to note for the record, that a significant period of time has elapsed between the investigation … and the publication of this report. The ACBPS has undergone a significant change in structure … and the ABF has also undertaken a significant body of work aimed at targeting criminal infiltration of the supply chain at our borders.”

Former officers convicted of offences in the past few years include:

George Filewood, who pleaded guilty to corruptly disclosing official information to assist a drug importation syndicate and was sentenced to six months jail – suspended upon him entering into a good behaviour order for nine months.

Former ABF officer Craig Richard Eakin, who was convicted and jailed for four years for helping a syndicate smuggle illegal tobacco and cigarettes from Dubai into the country.

Former Customs and Border Protection Service officer Johayna Merhi who pleaded guilty and was jailed for four-and-a-half years with non-parole of two-and-half-years for helping smuggle the tobacco and dealing with proceeds of crime.

Former Customs and Border Protection Service officer Johayna Merhi was jailed for four and a half years. Picture: John Grainger

Former Customs officer Christopher Cranney who was sentenced to 14 years jail with a non-parole period of 8 years and 9 months, for conspired to import pseudoephedrine from Vietnam in 2012.

Former Customs officer Adrian Paul Lamella, who pleaded guilty to receiving bribes and was sentenced to four years jail.

Paul John Katralis, 26, Customs Officer, from Menai, who pleaded guilty to helping import precursor drug pseudoephedrine jailed for four years.

Svetlana Colakovic, 35, Australian Quarantine Inspection Service, from Caringbah, who pleaded guilty to three charges of dishonesty included providing information to a Customs officer who was convicted of accepting a bribe and receiving benefits in exchange for information.

Originally published as The names of corrupt Australian customs and border staff revealed