The AFP has seized more than 26.8 tonnes of illicit drugs and precursors in the past financial year, almost four tonnes more compared to the previous financial year, while saving the Australian public from about $10.7 billion in harm.
The seized illicit drugs included methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and precursors, will be destroyed, depriving criminal gangs from profiting from the proceeds of crime.
The drugs, seized in 2022-2023 with assistance from Australian Border Force (ABF) and state and territory partners, has prevented about $10.7 billion in community harm.
In 2021-22, more than 23.1tonnes of border-controlled drugs and precursors were netted by the AFP and the ABF.
AFP Commander Paula Hudson said the increase in seizures highlighted Australia remained an attractive target for transnational serious organised crime.
“Australia unfortunately remains a lucrative market for transnational serious organised crime, with syndicates attempting to import harmful illicit drugs into our country by any means possible,” Commander Hudson said.
“The seizure of 26.8 tonnes of drugs and precursors is a major achievement and highlights that as hard as these criminal syndicates may try, the AFP, together with our state, Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners, remain a step ahead.
“Throughout the financial year the AFP has worked tirelessly to stop these drugs reaching our streets. In doing so, we are proud to have prevented significant harm to the community and the inevitable domino effect it has on our emergency services, hospitals and first responders.”
Commander Hudson warned that the AFP remained committed to stamping out transnational serious organised crime and bringing offenders to justice every day of the year.
“While many in the community are ready to wind down for the festive season, the AFP will continue to work around the clock to protect the public from organised criminals, who try to get rich of the misery of others,” she said.
ABF Commander James Copeman said the Australian border is one of our most critical national assets and that the ABF and its law enforcement partners will continue to make the border a hostile environment for criminals trying to import illicit drugs.
“Cocaine shipments in particular are being seized at the nation’s border at unprecedented levels as Australia confronts a global surge in trafficking. The ABF are seizing more than twice the amount of cocaine we did last year,” Commander Copeman said.
“Methodologies that criminal groups are using to attempt to import illicit goods into Australia are constantly changing, some include hull attachments on ships, drops at sea or use of trusted insiders and couriers on cruise ships.
“Regardless of the way in which these illicit substances try to enter into the country, the ABF along with our law enforcement partners, are always on the front foot and work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in order to seize and destroy these dangerous substances before they can cause harm to our loved ones.”
Some of the most significant seizures by AFP, together with state and Commonwealth law enforcement during this period include:
CASE STUDIES:
Operation ELDIA (May 2023):
- Three men were charged in Sydney as part of an international investigation into a Mexican organised crime syndicate suspected of importing hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand.
- It will be alleged 375kg of methamphetamine from five consignments seized by the AFP and its partners in Sydney and Los Angeles between April, 2022, and February, 2023, were sent from Los Angeles by this syndicate.
- The AFP worked closely with the Australian Border Force (ABF), Department of Home Affairs, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
