Italian Mafia ‘embedded’ in Melbourne docks
Crooked staff with connections to the Italian mafia and other organised crime groups have infiltrated Australia’s wharves, an explosive report claims.
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Exclusive: Crime families linked to Italian mafia and organised crime groups “were embedded” on Melbourne’s docks, a university research investigator has revealed.
Corruption was a scar at the wharves, with crooked dock workers “knowing the system” better than their bosses so they could import illegal drugs, tobacco and firearms.
“Organised crime is still embedded in the port, through families and friends of dockworkers and port employees; they still manipulate things (including Maritime Security Identification Cards and access),” according to a research investigator.
“Corruption in the family environment of dockworkers and employees has never been really targeted or taken away; some still influence the port, who they work with, what shifts they work, with what cruise they work with … the large numbers of companies can’t do anything about it; generation after generation, the ‘wharfies’ know the system at times better than the businessmen do.”
The claims were detailed in research from University of Essex lecturer Anna Sergi, an expert on the mafia who has travelled across the world investigating ports.
The research considers police and court action at ports in Genoa, Italy, Liverpool, UK, Montreal, Canada, New York, and Melbourne.
Dr Sergi said that Victoria’s Trident Task Force has been actively targeting corruption on the docks.
It comes as two men were due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
They were charged by Trident following a 12-month investigation into activities on Melbourne’s docks.
The men were facing weapons, trafficking and drugs charges.
News Corp Australia understands the pair was not linked to the mafia.
Corruption at Melbourne’s docks has changed, with Italian crime groups expanding.
Now the crime has spread into other “ethnic groups”, including Lebanese and Chinese gangs.
Most of the drug money made from illegal trafficking was kept in Australia and funnelled into other legitimate business through professional brokers.
Drugs had been found hidden in printers, footspas, coffee beans and stereo speakers, with container shipment the most popular smuggling technique.
However, private yachts were common and sending drugs by mail in smaller packages was another route.
Criminals were also sending “containers full of cash” offshore, with very few checks on outbound goods at Melbourne’s ports.
Dr Sergi said that Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police could share more intelligence to combat drug cartels to combat the threat.
“Corruption in Australia, of government officials, or dock workers are also observed consistently, notwithstanding the changes to recruitment strategies for dock workers and the calls for transparency in the recruitment of border and government officials,” she said.
“The authorities have started paying increased attention to warehouses around the port area, as these play a crucial role when handling containers and cargo in and out of the city.”
The AFP has joined an Interpol project, revealed by News Corp Australia, to tackle crime linked to Italian mafia group Ndrangheta.
“Organised crime is always looking for new and innovative ways to import drugs into Australia,” the AFP said in a statement.
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Victoria Police said it shared information with other law enforcement agencies to “identify vulnerabilities on the waterfront and reduce opportunities for organised crime.”
“Police continue to work with other law enforcement agencies to prevent, detect and deter organised crime throughout all aspects of the maritime environment,” a statement said.
“This includes the illicit importation of large amounts of tobacco, drugs, stolen goods and firearms.”
Toll Group, which receives containers at Melbourne’s Port, said: “In line with company policy, we do not comment on the employment arrangements for former or current employees.”
The Port of Melbourne said security had “never been stronger” since the Trident Task Force started in 2013.
“Security arrangements at Port of Melbourne meet all the requirements of the relevant federal regulators,” a statement said.
Originally published as Italian Mafia ‘embedded’ in Melbourne docks
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