Transnational serious organised criminals (TSOC) are attempting to import hundreds of kilograms of illicit drugs into Australia by paying associates to conceal them inside imported vehicles.
The AFP and Australian Border Force (ABF) have identified a significant increase in attempts to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia inside cars, vans and trucks, with a total of 303kg detected and seized upon arrival last year.
Seizures at the border in 2023 include 47kg of cocaine, 87kg of ketamine, 11kg of methamphetamine, 157kg of MDMA and 15 litres of liquid methamphetamine.
In February this year, two Victorian men were charged by the AFP after allegedly attempting to import 139kg of cocaine concealed in 13 luxury buses on board an international cargo ship destined for Adelaide, via Perth.
In another matter in May 2024, over $6.6 million worth of MDMA was discovered during an inspection of a cargo ship at Fremantle Harbour in Western Australia, concealed inside the panels of six new Peugeot vans.
AFP intelligence suggests trusted insiders and criminals based offshore are being paid by TSOC groups to conceal illicit drugs inside the vehicles before they are placed on a roll-on/roll-off vessel travelling to Australia.
Access to this type of vessel may be infiltrated by criminal groups which select legitimate consignments to stash illicit drugs inside, as part of attempts to import drugs into Australia.
TSOC groups will then monitor and track the shipment live in transit using a GPS tracking device hidden inside the vehicle. They will continue to track the movement and location of the vehicle after it arrives in Australia.
Once the vehicle arrives at the car dealership, the criminal group will attempt to remove the drugs using a spare key sent from criminals offshore. There is no suggestion that car dealerships are aware of this activity.
ABF officers in the maritime domain continue to deploy sophisticated detection technologies to counter the efforts of TSOC groups and remain committed to defending the integrity of the Australian border, in order to stop this method of drug importation.
In another incident, two Sydney men were arrested and charged by the AFP in July 2023 after allegedly smuggling 84kg of ketamine concealed inside two new vans imported into Melbourne.
The ketamine was concealed inside 79 plastic bags hidden within the panels of the vehicles. This amount of ketamine has an estimated wholesale value of over $3.3 million.
The Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce originally identified the concealment within the side and rear door panels of four vans after they arrived via a vessel into Melbourne in July 2023.
Police also seized 10 bottles of liquid of methamphetamine, 2.3kg of cocaine and 15 vacuum sealed bags of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine).
AFP Commander Paula Hudson said transnational serious organised crime syndicates had targeted new vehicles from car dealerships exported from Europe and South America.
"Transnational criminal syndicates continue to evolve their methods in a desperate attempt to import illicit drugs into Australia. We are aware of this methodology, where syndicates are piggybacking off the importation of new vehicles during transit in hopes of concealing them from law enforcement," Commander Hudson said.
"The AFP is warning these criminal groups that we remain a step ahead and will continue to disrupt their illicit activities, preventing them from causing significant harm and grief to our community."
The AFP is warning TSOC syndicate that attempts to import drugs into Australia will be stopped, with members working closely alongside international and domestic law enforcement partners, such as ABF, to detect and prevent harmful illicit substances from reaching Australian communities.
Commander Hudson said organised crime groups were motivated by their own personal greed and had exploited unsuspecting individuals and businesses.
"It's likely criminals attempting to remove the illicit drugs will dismantle or damage the vehicle during the process," Commander Hudson said.
"Criminals have no regard for the business owners and individuals who have purchased the vehicle and may already be feeling the impact of everyday living expenses.
"People involved in this illicit trade do not care about the harm they cause others, but only about the money they can make."
ABF Commander Chris Holzeimer said ever-increasing law enforcement cooperation was beginning to make a real dent in the illegal and criminal attempts.
"Together with the AFP and others, ABF officers will stop at nothing to push back strongly against the scourge of illegal drug import attempts," Commander Holzeimer said.
"ABF detection methods are among the best in the world at identifying drugs concealed on roll on/roll off vessels, and our highly trained officers are no strangers to evolving concealment techniques.
"Our message today is very simple - if you attempt to illegally import narcotics, including inside new vehicles, we will detect it and you can expect to face the full legal consequences for your actions," Commander Holzeimer said.
