The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has helped prevent over 39 tonnes of illicit drugs from being trafficked globally, including more than 4.2 tonnes in Pacific Island nations like Fiji, during the 2023-24 financial year.
Joint operations between the AFP and its international law enforcement partners have led to the seizure of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and other drugs worth billions of dollars. More than 24 tonnes of these substances were directly linked to Australian crime groups or destined for Australian shores.
Acting Commander of International Engagement Kel Mansfield stressed the significance of disrupting drug syndicates before they could inflict harm. He highlighted the devastating impact of drugs on Australian communities, citing over 12,200 hospitalisations in 2021-22 related to amphetamines, cocaine, and other stimulants, equivalent to more than 30 hospitalisations daily.
“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. “The AFP and our partners are relentless and will continue to dismantle these enterprises and put offenders before the courts.”
One of the year’s standout operations involved a massive drug bust in Fiji. In December 2023, the AFP and Fiji Police Force launched Operation Nautilus, targeting trans-Pacific drug trafficking. By January 2024, authorities seized 4.27 tonnes of methamphetamine in Fiji, valued between $640 million and $1.2 billion on the Australian market. Thirteen individuals, including key Fijian organisers and facilitators of the drug landings, were arrested. Investigations into proceeds of crime from this operation are ongoing.
The AFP’s international network, comprising more than 189 personnel across 35 countries, played a crucial role in intercepting shipments before they reached Australia. In Colombia, a joint operation in July 2023 disrupted a transnational syndicate, leading to multiple arrests and over $1 million in asset seizures. In Mexico, 787kg of methamphetamine destined for Australia was seized from cargo at the Port of Manzanillo in August 2023.
In October 2023, five men were arrested in Sydney for importing 100kg of cocaine via a passenger plane from South Africa. Follow-up intelligence led to additional arrests in Johannesburg, marking the first such operation in South Africa.
The top contributors to drug seizures bound for Australia in the past financial year were Myanmar with 20,561kg, Fiji with 4,270kg, Colombia with 4,071kg, and Mexico with 3,957kg.
These efforts highlight the AFP’s commitment to international collaboration, preventing drugs from causing further harm to Australian communities.
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