Australian Border Force Employee Allegedly Accepts Bribes to Facilitate Drug Imports
The border force officer allegedly took bribes, including cash and valuables, to ensure the safe passage of cocaine.
An Australian Border Force (ABF) employee and an alleged crime figure are facing charges related to drug trafficking and bribery after a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police.
The charges stem from an alleged conspiracy to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia.
The ABF employee, aged 50, is set to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on March 12, facing multiple serious charges like receiving a bribe as a Commonwealth official, abuse of public office, and unauthorised disclosure of information.
She is also charged with aiding the importation of border-controlled drugs, an offense that could lead to a potential life sentence.
The alleged crime figure, a 67-year-old man with suspected ties to organized crime, faces similar charges of bribery of a Commonwealth official and aiding the importation of illicit drugs.
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Two other men, aged 25 and 48, are also facing charges of attempting to possess border-controlled drugs.
All four individuals are linked to Operation Proctor, an investigation by the Multi-Agency Strike Team (MAST) that resulted in the arrest of seven alleged offenders under three separate MAST investigations since November 2024.
Conspiracy to Bypass Customs Examination
The charges are related to an alleged plot involving a parcel containing 6.9 kilograms of cocaine to bypass ABF examinations.
The ABF employee, working as a supervisor, used her access to ABF systems to search cargo and identify parcels marked for inspection.
Allegedly, she accepted bribes, including cash and valuable items, to ensure the safe passage of the cocaine parcel and provide information on a separate shipment of cosmetics from Malaysia.
The alleged operation unfolded after the ABF employee and her associate conspired to manipulate the examination process and evade detection.
MAST Targets Vulnerable Points in Australia’s Border Security
Operation Proctor, launched in November 2024, aims to uncover and disrupt criminal activities exploiting weaknesses in Australia’s border security.
New South Wales, especially Sydney, is a major entry point for illicit drugs, with a significant portion of drug trafficking into Australia passing through the state.
In the last fiscal year, almost 20 tonnes of illicit substances were intercepted en route to or within New South Wales.
Tim Fitzgerald, the deputy commissioner of the Australian Border Force, warned those attempting to challenge border controls.
“You will not succeed. You will be exposed, and you will face the full force of the law,” Fitzgerald stated.”
