Joint media release: Customs & Border Protection, Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police

Two men will face the Commonwealth Court in Cairns tomorrow (Thursday) in relation to serious drug charges detected during Operation Golf Hayes.

A 51-year-old Papua New Guinea national was arrested in the Torres Strait on 11 June 2009, in relation to an outstanding warrant for attempting to import a border controlled drug.

A 32-year-old man from Darnley Island will face a charge of possession of an imported drug in relation to an incident in January this year.

The charges are the result of 12 month multi-agency operation with the Queensland Police Service (QPS), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The success of the operation is being attributed to enforcement strategies utilised during the partnership project, Weed it Out, which has been carried out in the Torres Straits since June 2007.

QPS use invaluable support from Customs and Border Protection to conduct enforcement across the vast Torres Strait region.

In a coordinated effort, the QPS, AFP and Customs and Border Protection have implemented strategies to reduce cannabis supply in the Torres Strait.

This has directly impacted on availability of cannabis on specific islands.

The 51-year-old man is expected to be charged from the bench on numerous offences including conspiracy to import a border controlled drug and trafficking a controlled drug.

The maximum penalty for each offence is 10 years imprisonment.

Media contacts:

Queensland Police Media Ph. 07 3015 2444
Customs and Border Protection Communication and Media Ph: 02 6275 6793
Australian Federal Police Media Ph: 02 6275 7100