Australian Border Force Employee Accused of Taking Bribes to Aid Drug Imports

The border force officer allegedly received bribes, including cash and valuables, to ensure the safe passage of cocaine.

Police patrol as people cool off at Melbourne's St. Kilda Beach in Australia on Nov. 22, 2024. William West/AFP via Getty Images

An Australian Border Force (ABF) employee and an alleged crime figure have been charged with multiple offences related to drug trafficking and bribery, following a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police.

The charges come after the pair allegedly conspired to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia.

The ABF employee, aged 50, is scheduled to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on March 12, facing several serious charges.

These include receiving a bribe as a Commonwealth official, abuse of public office, and unauthorised disclosure of information.

Additionally, she has been charged with aiding the importation of border-controlled drugs, an offence carrying a potential life sentence.

The alleged crime figure, a 67-year-old Mount Pritchard man with suspected ties to organised crime, faces similar charges, including bribery of a Commonwealth official and aiding the importation of illicit drugs.

Two other men, aged 25 and 48, have also been charged with attempting to possess border-controlled drugs.

All four individuals are connected to Operation Proctor, an investigation launched by the Multi-Agency Strike Team (MAST), which has led to the arrest of seven alleged offenders under three separate MAST investigations since November 2024.

Conspiracy to Bypass Customs Examination

The charges stem from an alleged conspiracy to ensure that a parcel containing 6.9 kilograms of cocaine would bypass ABF examinations.

The ABF employee, working as a supervisor, had access to ABF systems, allowing her to search cargo and identify parcels flagged for inspection.

It is alleged she received bribes, including cash and high-value items, to facilitate the safe passage of the cocaine parcel and provide information on a separate shipment of cosmetics arriving from Malaysia.

The alleged operation unfolded after the ABF employee and her accomplice conspired to corrupt the examination process, manipulating the system to avoid detection.

MAST Targets Vulnerable Points in Australia’s Border Security

Operation Proctor, initiated in November 2024, aims to uncover and dismantle criminal operations that exploit vulnerabilities within Australia’s border security.

New South Wales, particularly Sydney, remains a major entry point for illicit drugs, with up to 59 percent of all drug trafficking into Australia routed through the state.

In the past financial year, almost 20 tonnes of illicit substances were intercepted on their way to, or within, New South Wales.

Tim Fitzgerald, the deputy commissioner of the Australian Border Force, sent a message to anyone willing to test border controls.

“You will not succeed. You will be exposed, and you will face the full force of the law,” Fitzgerald said.