THE Australian Border Force has disrupted a 50-kilogram cocaine import that arrived in Brisbane in a sea-freight reefer container on 23 November.
The detection was made as part of an operation that aims to identify and combat trusted insider threats within supply chains.
The ABF said it has been targeting a global trafficking methodology known as a “rip-off”, which relates to the movement of border-controlled drugs hidden within legitimate cargo.
ABF officers examined a refrigerated container in Brisbane, which led to the discovery of cocaine inside the motor compartment. The cocaine, which the ABF estimates to be worth about $15 million, arrived from Belgium and law enforcement investigations into the alleged importer are ongoing.
ABF Assistant Commissioner Tim Fitzgerald said that the ABF was keenly aware of the reliance of organised crime figures on people within the freight industry to assist with their criminal endeavours.
“These individuals, also known as trusted insiders, abuse the access and influence available to them through their employment, to compromise supply chain integrity,” Assistant Commissioner Fitzgerald said.
“The ABF is working closely with the Australian Federal Police and other law enforcement partners domestically and internationally to combat these threats and enhance the integrity of the nation’s sea and aviation supply chains.”
A similar concealment was identified in August 2020, when 72 kilograms of cocaine was located in refrigerated container at the Port of Brisbane.
