Online child abuse offences remained a key focus in 2023 for the AFP's Central Command, which covers South Australia and the Northern Territory, along with engaging migrant communities, aviation safety and targeting the activity of serious and organised crime.
The South Australia and Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Teams (JACET) arrested more than 100 online child abuse offenders in 2023 and removed more than 77 children from harm in Australia and overseas. Since its inception in 2015, SA JACET has removed more than 345 children from harm.
The SA JACET (comprising AFP and South Australia Police officers) and NT JACET (comprising AFP and Northern Territory Police officers) received more than 80 referrals in 2023 via the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) or received as direct referrals from international law enforcement agencies.
AFP Acting Commander Greg Davis, said the JACET teams across South Australia and the Northern Territory manage an average of 12 online child abuse investigations each month.
"Since the beginning of 2023, the number of investigations by the JACET teams across Central Command has remained steady or increased compared to the same time in 2022," Acting Commander Davis said.
The SA JACET investigated 125 online child abuse matters in 2023, compared to 142 in 2022, while NT JACET experienced an increase with 21 investigations in 2023, compared to 16 investigations in 2022.
Acting Commander Davis said online safety is a key concern for law enforcement around the world with the prevalence of children and young people accessing the internet.
"We are committed to working with our national and international law enforcement partners to ensure the protection of children, wherever they live."
In March 2023, SA JACET solved one of its longest running online child abuse investigations.
"The SA JACET and AFP Victim Identification investigators made a major breakthrough in the long running case after spending countless hours examining images and applying new technology techniques.
"The tenacity and relentlessness of investigators resulted in the arrest of a South Australian man from Adelaide's southern suburbs after a referral from INTERPOL in 2018 identifying images posted online that were likely taken in Australia."
Acting Commander Davis said AFP investigators across South Australia and the Northern Territory also remain committed across a variety of crime types.
Counter Terrorism is a critical priority, with extensive work ongoing with partner agencies.
"The AFP's Community Liaison Teams (CLT), in South Australia and the Northern Territory, aim to build positive relationships with migrant communities.
"In 2023, our Central Command CLT coordinated a number of sporting and cultural events in Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Darwin, bringing together law enforcement and culturally and linguistically diverse communities in a positive and cooperative setting."
In November 2023, AFP investigators in Darwin charged a Northern Territory man for the importation of a newly identified potent synthetic opioid, metonitazene, through the mail.
"The detection of metonitazene is uncommon, but collaboration with our law enforcement partners, allowed us to identify those involved in this illegal activity.
"This air mail import may seem a relatively small amount, but these dangerous substances can be life-threatening even in the smallest amounts."
Airport security has also been a key focus throughout 2023 with AFP officers at Adelaide and Darwin Airports responding to hundreds of incidents.
"The AFP's work in ensuring the safety of the travelling community, airline crew and airport staff is vital for the efficient operation of our airports," Acting Commander Davis said.
"The AFP has zero tolerance for bad behaviour at airports and on-board aircraft. Bad behaviour can delay flights, lead to bans on travelling and result in criminal charges."
From 1 January 2023, to 1 November, 2023 AFP officers at Adelaide Airport responded to more than 120 disturbances, 24 intoxicated incidents and located 110 prohibited items. During the same period, AFP officers at Darwin Airport responded to more than 100 incidents of intoxication, offensive behavior and public disturbances, and more than 90 incidents of travellers carrying prohibited items.
"AFP officers have seized a range of prohibited items being carried by passengers travelling through Adelaide and Darwin Airports, including ammunition, spud guns, gel blasters, extendable batons, knuckle dusters and credit card knives.
"This is concerning for us and we remind all travellers to leave these things at home, and that they could face criminal charges for carrying some of these items."
More than 32 kilograms of drugs were also seized from passengers travelling through Adelaide Airport, including cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis.
The AFP last week launched a nation-wide operation involving high-visibility patrols and deployment of the AFP's specialized Canine Unit across nine designated airports, to provide protection and assistance to the travelling public this festive season.
The patrols will target intoxication, offensive and disruptive behaviour in the air and on the ground, along with possession of prohibited items such as illicit drugs and weapons during the peak travel period.
