working with external law enforcement agencies to enhance our response to the threat posed by illicit drugs, particularly the shift to the use of methamphetamines
Customs has remained at the forefront of Australia's fight against illicit drugs throughout 2006-07 with a number of notable successes. We increased our contribution to the national effort against the distribution of illicit drugs through innovative investigation, targeting and intelligence gathering techniques.
ILLICIT DRUG RESULTS
During 2006-07 Customs targeting, investigations and enforcement efforts continued to intercept illicit drugs and precursor chemicals bound for Australia.
The following examples illustrate the way Customs has used resources to fulfil this role and the different degrees of criminality that we deal with in our border protection duties.
MDMA found in solar water systems
A joint Customs and Australian Federal Police (AFP) operation led to the seizure of 113kg of MDMA powder in April 2007 at the Sydney container examination facility (CEF). The operation began when a shipment from Israel, described as solar water systems, was targeted for x-ray examination. Customs x-ray equipment revealed anomalies in three of the six cylinders.
Further examination located 172 tennis ball cans inside the
solar water systems containing powder which tested positive
for MDMA. Customs referred the matter to the AFP and an Israeli
national was later arrested.
Photo: x-ray image of solar water systems.
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Photo: sealed tennis ball containers in solar water system.
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Photo: x-ray image of solar water systems.
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Photo: sealed tennis ball containers containing MDMA.
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It is estimated that this quantity of MDMA could have been used to manufacture up to 1.2m tablets of ecstasy and the street value of the powder could be worth more than $37m.
Computers containing cocaine and ecstasy
In September 2006 Customs detected 135.7kg of cocaine and 124,436 MDMA (ecstasy) tablets in an incoming sea cargo consignment in Brisbane.
A shipment of computer monitors was targeted for examination and the drug concealment was revealed when staff used x-ray analysis and physical examination of the goods. The research initiative of targeting staff and the technological capability of the CEF made possible the interception of this sophisticated attempt to import illicit substances.
A controlled delivery was carried out by the AFP in an attempt
to apprehend those involved in the shipment and prevent further
shipments. This action was successful and resulted in multiple
arrests. Approximately $195m worth of illicit drugs was kept
from reaching the Australian community.
Photo: computer monitors at Brisbane container examination
facility.
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Photo: computer monitors concealing MDMA and cocaine.
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Illicit drug laboratories
When Customs investigators execute warrants for serious breaches at the border, goods prohibited under State and Territory legislation are often found. These detections have included the discovery of clandestine amphetamine and hydroponics laboratories.
Caught three times in one week
In April 2007 officers from the Sydney Clyde Postal gateway intercepted a small parcel containing ephedrine destined for an Adelaide address.
Customs executed warrants at the importer's residential premises. During the search, seven unregistered and unlicensed firearms were located. Also found was a cannabis hydroponic room and various quantities of cocaine, ecstasy, liquid fantasy, methamphetamine, and approximately 5kg of dried cannabis. The importer was arrested by the State Police for state based drug offences.
Later that week, a parcel located at the Adelaide mail delivery centre and addressed to the same importer was found to contain stun guns. Customs is currently prosecuting the importer for the importation of ephedrine and five stun guns. The maximum penalty is a $275,000 fine and/or ten years imprisonment.
Intelligence gathered at the premises suggested that the importer had also ordered 50 litres of Gammabutrylacetone (GBL). GBL is a prohibited import and also a controlled precursor used in the production of methamphetamine.
The GBL was intercepted and Customs officers assisted the AFP in conducting a controlled delivery, also later that week. The AFP subsequently arrested the importer and investigations are continuing.
Bikers busted
Operation Cover commenced in July 2005 and involved a coordinated Customs response to stop the importation of commercial quantities of the controlled precursor chemical, pseudoephedrine, from Malaysia. Importation was via express mail service and air cargo to clandestine laboratories operated by outlaw motorcycle gangs in South Australia and Western Australia. Results from Operation Cover include 25kgs of pseudoephedrine seized in border detections in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane, detection of ten clandestine laboratories and 34 persons arrested by Customs and South Australian Police.
This operation involved cooperation between Customs and the South Australian Police, and the provision of information to the AFP, and subsequently to the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP). RMP warrant actions in Malaysia resulted in seven arrests, and it is expected that the established criminal network identified in Operation Cover has been severely disrupted. RMP action also resulted in the detection of a large quantity of cocaine and a quantity of crystal methamphetamine destined for Australia.
Drug detections in remote areas
While Customs targets and examines cargo that arrives through our airports and seaports we also have rapid response capabilities in remote areas such as Torres Strait. On 27 April 2007 Thursday Island District Manager David Thoms and Torres Strait Customs officer Pele Torenbeek were on Boigu Island, just south of mainland Papua New Guinea, when they received information relating to a possible importation of cannabis. Within minutes they were airborne to Dauan Island to intercept and interview the offender, a PNG national, who had imported 158gm of cannabis made up of 18 foils.
This type of operational activity is not uncommon in the Torres Strait and this was the second importation of cannabis intercepted that day. An earlier interception was made on Saibai Island. While the quantity of drugs intercepted in these two cases was not large, they demonstrate the long reach of Customs in protecting our border. Both of these matters were referred to the AFP.
Smuggling over the counter drugs
The following Customs investigation serves as a warning to anyone seeking to smuggle precursor chemicals into Australia, regardless of the composition or amount. In December 2006, officers at the Australia Post Gateway Facility in Melbourne intercepted a parcel from Singapore that contained 400 Sudafed tablets. The active ingredient within Sudafed is pseudoephedrine, which can be used as a precursor in the manufacture of amphetamine-type substances including ice and speed.
The detection sparked an investigation, and subsequent warrant activity by Customs investigators resulted in the discovery of evidence relating to the offence and a quantity of methamphetamines. Customs works in partnership with State and Territory Police when domestic drugs offences are detected during Customs investigations, so the narcotics were referred to the Victorian Police. The result of Customs detection meant that in June 2007 a man was convicted for the importation of pseudoephedrine. He was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment and fined $250 for possession.
PROJECT STRIDOR
Customs established Project Stridor as an internal organisational project in 2006-07. This project was created to test the benefits of a multi-disciplinary team in targeting the emerging threat of illicit drug precursors into Australia.
Officers seconded from Customs across Australia were recruited for their skills in the disciplines of intelligence, investigations and enforcement operations. Together this team created a short term National Precursor Strike Team.
The objective of this team was to develop innovative approaches to 'target' development and to provide a more flexible and agile response to illicit drug precursor importations.
To achieve this objective the team sought to enhance understanding of legitimate and illicit trade in precursors by working closely with international and Australian agencies.
A pilot project was conducted by Australian Customs together with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in London using software developed by HMRC and Belastingdienst (Dutch Customs). The software used 'spiders' through the Internet to monitor and track trade in selected commodities, which demonstrated positive results. Two significant detections of chemicals used in the manufacture of illicit drugs were made, resulting in operational activity in Australia.
This new software functionality will provide Customs with ongoing benefits. The pilot project demonstrates the advantages of multi-disciplinary teams in combating emerging trends in illicit drugs.
