News Centre

This is a joint media release between the AFP and Australian Border Force

Editor's note: Images and vision available via Hightail

The AFP has seized more than 26.8 tonnes of illicit drugs and precursors in the past financial year, almost four tonnes more compared to the previous financial year, while saving the Australian public from about $10.7 billion in harm.

The seized illicit drugs included methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and precursors, will be destroyed, depriving criminal gangs from profiting from the proceeds of crime.

The drugs, seized in 2022-2023 with assistance from Australian Border Force (ABF) and state and territory partners, has prevented about $10.7 billion in community harm.

In 2021-22, more than 23.1tonnes of border-controlled drugs and precursors were netted by the AFP and the ABF.

AFP Commander Paula Hudson said the increase in seizures highlighted Australia remained an attractive target for transnational serious organised crime.

"Australia unfortunately remains a lucrative market for transnational serious organised crime, with syndicates attempting to import harmful illicit drugs into our country by any means possible," Commander Hudson said.

"The seizure of 26.8 tonnes of drugs and precursors is a major achievement and highlights that as hard as these criminal syndicates may try, the AFP, together with our state, Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners, remain a step ahead.

"Throughout the financial year the AFP has worked tirelessly to stop these drugs reaching our streets. In doing so, we are proud to have prevented significant harm to the community and the inevitable domino effect it has on our emergency services, hospitals and first responders."

Commander Hudson warned that the AFP remained committed to stamping out transnational serious organised crime and bringing offenders to justice every day of the year.

"While many in the community are ready to wind down for the festive season, the AFP will continue to work around the clock to protect the public from organised criminals, who try to get rich of the misery of others," she said.

ABF Commander James Copeman said the Australian border is one of our most critical national assets and that the ABF and its law enforcement partners will continue to make the border a hostile environment for criminals trying to import illicit drugs.

"Cocaine shipments in particular are being seized at the nation's border at unprecedented levels as Australia confronts a global surge in trafficking. The ABF are seizing more than twice the amount of cocaine we did last year," Commander Copeman said.

"Methodologies that criminal groups are using to attempt to import illicit goods into Australia are constantly changing, some include hull attachments on ships, drops at sea or use of trusted insiders and couriers on cruise ships.

"Regardless of the way in which these illicit substances try to enter into the country, the ABF along with our law enforcement partners, are always on the front foot and work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in order to seize and destroy these dangerous substances before they can cause harm to our loved ones."

Some of the most significant seizures by AFP, together with state and Commonwealth law enforcement during this period include:

Case studies

Operation ELDIA (May 2023)

• Three men were charged in Sydney as part of an international investigation into a Mexican organised crime syndicate suspected of importing hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand.
• It will be alleged 375kg of methamphetamine from five consignments seized by the AFP and its partners in Sydney and Los Angeles between April, 2022, and February, 2023, were sent from Los Angeles by this syndicate.
• The AFP worked closely with the Australian Border Force (ABF), Department of Home Affairs, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
• For more information, including vision and images, view the Meth in plastic pallets seized in Australia, US, Hong Kong and New Zealand media release.

Operation WESTBROOK (June 2023)

• Seven people have been charged for their alleged roles in attempting to import 850kg of cocaine into Australia in May hidden on a bulk cargo carrier.
• Those charged include three men who allegedly travelled off the coast of Fremantle in a cabin cruiser to try to collect the drugs and two senior crew members of the bulk cargo carrier, who police allege knew the drugs were on the ship and planned to drop them overboard for collection.
• A man and woman, who police allege are part of the Australian-based syndicate responsible for collecting the drugs and facilitating the logistics of the importation, have also been charged.

Operation PARKES (June 2023)

• A joint AFP, ABF, VicPol, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Services Agency, New Zealand Police and New Zealand Customs Service investigation resulted in five men being charged with the alleged attempted importation of 2,900 litres of liquid methamphetamine.
• Canadian authorities also allegedly seized a total of 6,125 litres of liquid methamphetamine.
• A further NZ seizure of 713kg of methamphetamine is suspected to be linked.
• For more information, including vision and images, view the Six men charged amid global crime syndicate's attempt to traffic $1.7 billion worth of methamphetamine to Australia media release.

Operation LONGHILL (August/October 2022)

• The Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF), comprising officers from the AFP, Victoria Police, Australian Border Force, Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, seized 185kg of cocaine and 285kg of methamphetamine.
• Two males were charged with drug trafficking offences.
• For more information, including vision and images, view the Drugs seized from not-so 'safe house', syndicate smashed, Melbourne man arrested media release.

Op GUYRA (April 2023)

• Australian authorities seized the second largest heroin shipment ever detected in Australia after intercepting 336kg of the illicit drug inside a shipment sent from Malaysia to Brisbane.
• A Sydney man was arrested and charged following a joint AFP and Australian Border Force (ABF) operation.
• The heroin, which has an estimated street value of $268.8 million, is the largest amount of this illicit drug ever seized in Queensland.
• For more information, including vision and images, view the AFP seizes 336 kilograms of heroin in largest ever Queensland detection.

For more information about the AFP's achievements throughout the 2022-2023 Financial Year, please read the AFP Annual Report (PDF, 7MB), available online now.

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.