Christmas Island guard had meth pipe in luggage

A detention centre guard deployed to Christmas Island has been sent home after a meth pipe was discovered in his luggage.

Maximum security fencing at Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre.

An immigration detention centre guard deployed to work at the reopened centre on Christmas Island has lasted just 18 hours after he tried to sneak a meth pipe past his superiors at Australian Border Force.

The man was employed by security contractor Serco, which runs Australia’s immigration detention network for Australian Border Force, when he and other guards landed on the Indian Ocean territory on a government charter plane at 6.30pm local time on Friday. He was on the next charter plane out at noon Saturday after the smoking implement was detected in his luggage.

Australian Border Force baggage checks are rigorous at the airport on Christmas Island. The agency is a highly visible presence everywhere on the Indian Ocean territory.

Australian Border Force owns accommodation on the island for its workers.

Asked about the guard found with a meth pipe, a Home Affairs spokesperson said the department “can confirm that a contractor has been returned from Christmas Island”.

“While we can’t comment on the specific circumstances, all contractors are expected to meet the highest standards of integrity and professionalism,” the spokesperson said.

Asked about the guard found with a meth pipe, a Home Affairs spokesperson said the department “can confirm that a contractor has been returned from Christmas Island”.

“While we can’t comment on the specific circumstances, all contractors are expected to meet the highest standards of integrity and professionalism,” the spokesperson said.