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The AFP has helped prevent more than 39 tonnes of illicit drugs being trafficked throughout the world, including more than 4.2 tonnes in Pacific Island nations, during the past financial year.

Joint operations and investigations by the AFP and its international law enforcement partners during the 2023-24 financial year have led to billions of dollars' worth of illicit drugs being seized – including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine – which were directly or indirectly prevented from infiltrating Australian communities.

More than 24 tonnes of those illicit drugs and precursors seized were directly linked to an Australian crime group or likely to be sent to Australia.

The AFP works to disrupt the manufacture and trafficking of illicit drugs offshore to prevent shipments from reaching Australia through its international network of more than 189 personnel located in 35 countries worldwide.

AFP Acting Commander International Engagement Kel Mansfield said those who sought to profit from the import, manufacture and sale of illicit drugs remained a major concern for the AFP.

“These tonnes of drugs seized by the AFP’s international partners had the potential to cause untold harm to the Australian community,” Acting Commander Mansfield said.

“In 2021-22, there were 12,200 hospitalisations* related to the use of amphetamines, cocaine, and other stimulants, which is more than 30 hospitalisations every single day. This has a considerable impact on the Australian health system which can negatively affect the entire community.

“Drugs are a scourge on society, and I am proud that the AFP, working in tandem with our international partners, have been able to successfully disrupt these criminal networks seeking to profit off the misery of Australians.

“We know that Australia is an attractive target for these networks, but the AFP and our partners are relentless, and will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle these enterprises and put offenders before the courts.”

The countries recording the largest total seizures of illicit drugs bound for Australia in the 2023-24 financial year were:

1. Myanmar – 20,561kg
2. Fiji – 4,270kg
3. Colombia – 4,071kg
4. Mexico – 3,957kg

*Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare analysis of the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD).

CASE STUDIES

Operation Nautilus

The AFP and Fiji Police Force (FPF) began a joint operation named Operation Nautilus in December 2023, focusing on trans-Pacific drug trafficking networks.

The AFP and FPF identified syndicate members in Fiji allegedly planning to stockpile methamphetamine intended for on-shipment to Australia. In January 2024, the FPF executed multiple search warrants and seized a total of 4.27 tonnes of methamphetamine, with an estimated Australian street value of between $640 million and $1.2 billion.

The successful operation led to 13 arrests, including those alleged to have facilitated the landing of the drugs in Fiji and the Fijian organisers allegedly responsible for stockpiling the drugs. With AFP support, the FPF continues to pursue proceeds of crime identified during the investigation.

Colombia/Western Australia (WA) Police Force

The AFP conducted joint investigations with Colombian law enforcement authorities and WA Police to counter sophisticated criminal syndicates targeting the Colombian, Australian and international communities.

On 24 July, 2023, a significant transnational serious organised crime group was disrupted when numerous search warrants were simultaneously executed in Perth and in the Colombian cities of Medellín and Cartagena. More than $1 million worth of assets were seized in Colombia, with further seizures to continue.

Joint work in Mexico

In August 2023, AFP members in Mexico, in collaboration with local and international partner agencies, identified suspicious cargo pending export from Mexico bound for Hong Kong, with Australia the suspected final destination. With the assistance of Mexican agencies, the cargo was located in the Port of Manzanillo, Mexico. An extensive examination resulted in the seizure of 787 kg of methamphetamine concealed within machinery parts.

The AFP has a strong working relationship with Mexican law enforcement, with an estimated 38 tonnes of methamphetamine being seized during the past 20 months.

These seizures are a testament of the AFP’s collaboration with Mexican authorities and the shared determination to combat organised crime syndicates and cartels in Mexico.

Operation Lucian

In October 2023, AFP members arrested five men in Sydney for their roles in importing about 100kg of cocaine in the cargo hold of a passenger plane from South Africa. Three of the men were charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, and possessing a commercial quantity of cocaine, while the other two men were charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of cocaine. All five men remain before the courts.

Following the arrests, intelligence was passed to the South African Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI) to determine how the drugs came to be on the flight. Acting on information provided by the AFP, five men were subsequently arrested in the South African city of Johannesburg.

This is the first time arrests have been made in South African for an operation such as this.

Note to media

Media are encouraged to include help-seeking information in stories about illicit drugs to minimise any negative impact on people in the community. The following services provide people with access to support and information.

• For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
• Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online.
• For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to the Turning Point website.