Joint Media Release

Australian Federal Police, NSW Police Force, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Australian Crime Commission and the NSW Crime Commission

21 May 2013

Operation Polaris arrests two men for drug precursor importation

A joint law-enforcement operation has arrested two men, including a Sydney-based freight forwarder, seizing precursor drugs and cash after investigations into the importation of a commercial quantity of pseudoephedrine.

Operation Polaris is a joint waterfront operation comprising the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police Force, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Australian Crime Commission and the NSW Crime Commission targeting serious and organised criminal activity at New South Wales sea cargo terminals.

About 5pm yesterday (Monday 20 May 2013), Operation Polaris officers arrested one man at Mascot and another at Waterloo. A number of boxes containing 75 canisters, each filled with about one kilogram of white powder, were seized.

It will be alleged the boxes had been removed from a freight load at Alexandria prior to inspection by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Preliminary testing of one of the canisters indicated it contained pseudophedrine, a border-controlled precursor drug used in the manufacture of methylamphetamine ('ice'). The estimated street value of 75kg of pseudoephedrine is about $7.5 million.

A search warrant was then conducted on a unit at Waterloo where officers seized in excess of $200,000 cash. A second search warrant at Bronte led to the seizure of more than $40,000, and small quantities of cocaine and ecstasy.

The two men, a 41-year-old freight forwarder and a 36-year-old man, were each charged with import a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor, namely pseudoephedrine, contrary to section 307.11 of the Criminal Code Act 1995; and dealing with property reasonably Suspected of being proceeds of crime, Section 400.9(1A) of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

They were each refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today.

Investigations are continuing.

Joint Media Release: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and Australian Federal Police

20 May 2013

Man charged with importing 10kg of heroin in suitcases

A 24-year-old Thai national is scheduled to appear in the Sydney Central Local Court today (20 May 2013) charged with allegedly importing 10 kilograms of heroin.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) officers selected the man for a full baggage examination when he arrived at Sydney Airport yesterday on a flight from Thailand.

The ACBPS officers unpacked the man's two suitcases and x-rayed them after noticing they were unusually heavy.

The x-ray revealed a possible concealment in the base of the suitcases. The officers deconstructed the suitcases and found a white powder. Initial tests indicated the substance to be heroin.

The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police and the man was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act (cth) 1995.

Further testing will be conducted to determine the exact nature and purity of the substance.

The maximum penalty for this offence is $1,275,000 in fines or 25 years imprisonment.

Media enquiries:

ACBPS Media (02) 6275 6793

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Media Release

20 May 2013

Man sentenced to 15 months gaol for importing child exploitation material

A 66-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 months gaol in the Brisbane District Court for importing child exploitation material following prosecution by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), on Friday, 17 May.

On 3 January 2012, the man arrived at Brisbane Airport on a flight from China.

When ACBPS officers examined his baggage they found multiple electronic devices containing almost 98,000 images and more than 85 video clips depicting child exploitation material.

Manager Investigations Queensland, Alex O'Brien, said the Service is committed to protecting the Australian community by detecting, investigating and prosecuting the importation of child exploitation material.

"Importing such abhorrent material is a serious crime, and those who attempt to do so face severe consequences.

"Regardless of when these images were produced the children portrayed in them continue to suffer in the knowledge that their images may forever be circulating, compounding the effects of the exploitation."

The man was charged with one count of importing a prohibited import, namely child pornography, and two counts each of possessing child pornography material while outside of Australia and producing child pornography material while outside of Australia.

The man was sentenced to 15 months gaol for the importation offence and 12 months each for the possessing and production offences, to be served concurrently. He was ordered to be released after serving three months.

"This sentencing should serve as a reminder to all travellers of the very serious penalties for bringing this type of material into Australia," Mr O'Brien said.

Australia has strict laws relating to the importation of material depicting children being subjected to sexual abuse. The maximum penalty for this type of offence is $425,000 and/or 10 years imprisonment.

Media enquiries:

ACBPS Media (02) 6275 6793

Joint Media Release: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and Australian Federal Police

17 May 2013

Two men charged with importing 72 litres of methamphetamine

A joint Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) operation has resulted in approximately 72 litres of methamphetamine being stopped from entering Australia.

The operation began last weekend when ACBPS officers intercepted the liquid in a consignment of hairdressing equipment from China.

Intelligence received by ACBPS led to officers examining a pallet of shampoo, conditioner and hair colouring products. Initial testing indicated the presence of methamphetamine.

An AFP examination of the consignment confirmed that it contained approximately 72 litres of liquid methamphetamine, with a total potential street value of up to $43 million.

A controlled delivery of the consignment was conducted this week which led to two men being arrested earlier this morning (17 May 2013).

A 35-year-old man and a 43-year-old man, both Hong Kong nationals, have been charged with attempt to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, namely methamphetamine, contrary to Section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

ACBPS Manager NSW Container Examination Facility Paul Willard said these arrests were yet another example of the success of the Service's intelligence-led approach to targeting containers arriving in sea cargo.

"We are alert to the different ways criminals conceal these dangerous drugs in their attempts to evade detection," Mr Willard said.

"Criminals should be aware we have the examination skills, supported by cutting edge technology, to detect even the most sophisticated concealments."

AFP Sydney office Manager Ray Johnson said that these arrests are a strong reminder that you have a high chance of being caught if you attempt to import illicit drugs into Australia.

"The size of this seizure and the amount of harm it could potentially have caused cannot be understated."

The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment and/or a $1,275,000 fine.

The investigation is continuing, and further arrests have not been ruled out.

Media enquiries:

AFP National Media (02) 6131 6333

ACBPS Media (02) 6275 6793

Media note: Images of the seizure are available in the image gallery on the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service website. Please attribute images to: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Media Release

16 May 2013

Update - Border Protection Command transfers passengers to Darwin

On Tuesday, 14 May 2013, ACV Triton assisted a suspected irregular entry vessel west of Darwin.

For operational and safety reasons, the 42 people from this vessel will be transferred to Darwin, rather than Christmas Island as previously reported, where they will undergo initial security and identity checks and their reasons for travel will be established.

People arriving by boat without a visa after 13 August 2012 run the risk of transfer to a regional processing country.

Media enquiries:

ACBPS Media (02) 6275 6793

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Media Release

6 May 2013

Customs and Border Protection confirms Geraldton vessel destined for New Zealand

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) has completed an assessment of the circumstances surrounding the arrival of an asylum seeker vessel in Geraldton on 9 April 2013 and found New Zealand was the vessel's intended destination.

Interviews with the Master of the vessel and an analysis of data on-board have confirmed the vessel was heading for New Zealand. When the Master realised it was not possible to complete the voyage as planned due to weather delays and safety concerns, he steamed towards the Western Australian coastline seeking a populated location for assistance.

Border Protection Command (BPC) routinely assesses the deployment of vessels and aircraft in response to a range of maritime security threats based on actionable intelligence.

There was no information or actionable intelligence that would have enabled adjustment of BPC's surveillance and response program and the potential interception of this vessel.

BPC will continue to adopt a multi-layered approach to its patrol and surveillance program.

The classified assessment also concluded BPC aircraft and vessels were deployed appropriately given the information available at the time and that the onshore response to the arrival was managed effectively.

The assessment also found ACBPS' current regional 'ready response capability' for responding to such incidents is appropriate. In this case, the capability was activated from ACBPS Fremantle within 30 minutes of the Geraldton arrival and immediate assistance was provided by Western Australian Police.

The assessment recommended consideration be given to establishing a more formal 'flying squad' arrangement which can be used to support smaller ACBPS district offices during workload peaks in response to critical situations and to provide operational backup for staff absences.

The recommendation will be considered as part of the ACBPS reform program announced by the Minister for Home Affairs in December 2012.

In 2011-2012 BPC provided surveillance over 140 million square nautical miles with ACBPS and Royal Australian Air Force assets. A further 11 million square nautical miles was covered using commercially-contracted satellites.

The full report will not be released publicly due to the inclusion of operational, intelligence and security information in the assessment.

Media enquiries: