Tasmania crime: How ABF has seized 2000 items in 2022

It has been a bumper year of crime fighting for Tasmania’s Australian Border Force officers, who have seized tobacco, pharmaceuticals, guns and drugs. This is how they did it.

Raymundo Dando senior border force officer with Teagan Stefanovic border force officer on a yacht at Bellerive marina. Border Force officers at Bellerive marina. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

ILLEGAL drugs, weapons, tobacco and pharmaceuticals are among the more than 2000 items seized at Tasmania’s borders since January as authorities crack down on crime syndicates operating across the country.

Australian Border Force seized $6m in cocaine and a secret stash of guns among major busts as dangerous and prohibited items are detected at Tasmania’s airports and seaports.

Acting Inspector Regional Operations Tasmania Jesse Turner said Australian Border Force officers were determined to keep dangerous drugs and illegal weapons off Tasmanian streets.

“No matter how criminals attempt to conceal and move their illicit goods, ABF officers have the skills, technology and the resources to find them and track down the people who are attempting to bring them in,” Acting Inspector Turner said.

Raymundo Dando senior border force officer. Border Force officers at Bellerive marina. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Our partnerships continue to disrupt criminal syndicates attempting to bring drugs and illegal weapons into the country.

“Organised crime syndicates will try to evade border controls by hiding illicit drugs in a variety of ways, including manipulating people to do their bidding.

“The number of detections we have had in Tasmania this year sends a clear message to organised crime – we are aware of your methodologies in your attempts to import harmful, illicit substances – and they will not work.”

EMSearching luggage of a passenger on a flight arrival from New Zealand. Border Force at Hobart International Airport. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The bullish intent comes as a secret stash of guns was uncovered in raids last month on two properties in the state’s south by Tasmania Police and ABF officers.

One property contained seven guns, including four gel blaster replica firearms.

A man was charged with several offences including possessing unregistered firearms without a licence and mailing firearms, firearm parts and ammunition into Tasmania.

Police also located 12 guns at another property, including 10 gel blaster replica firearms and ammunition.

Australian Border Force and Tasmania Police seize multiple firearms located on properties in Southern Tasmania. Picture: Tasmania Police

A separate man was charged with various offences including possessing unregistered firearms and ammunition without a licence and cultivating and possessing 1kg of cannabis.

The Tasmanian arrests were a part of a nationwide police sting targeting illegal firearms, dubbed Operation Athena.

Police arrested 86 people, seized 523 firearms and executed 103 search warrants in co-ordinated strikes across the country between October 23 and October 29.

Officers also seized $6m of cocaine at Bell Bay, near George Town, in March in one of the state’s biggest drug busts on record.

$6m seizure of cocaine at Bell Bay. Picture: Tasmania Police.

ABF received intelligence resulting in the inspection of a shipping container which had arrived from Sydney.

A search was conducted which led to 15 individually wrapped packages of cocaine – about 15kg in total – being discovered.

Report suspicious activity to ABF’s Border Watch Program online here.