AFP, Queensland Police announce major crackdown on ‘black flights’ smuggling drugs, people through the Torres Strait
‘Black flights’ smuggling drugs and people into Australia via the Torres Strait are being targeted by a new federal and state police force
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett and Queensland Police Service (QPS) Assistant Commissioner Brett Schafferius said the task force was established to counter the growing threat from criminals supplying methamphetamine and cocaine stockpiled in the Pacific.
“We believe that tonnes of illicit goods have been stockpiled in the Pacific for many years, providing organized crime syndicates on land and at sea with reliable and easy access to dangerous drugs on Australia’s doorstep,” Commissioner Barrett said in a statement on Friday.
“Land flights landing in regional air strips and the porous border between Papua New Guinea and North Queensland require a more visible law enforcement presence.”
The task force will also have a “laser-like focus” on targeting “sexual services, forced labor and human trafficking” by organized criminals.
As part of the crackdown, Commissioner Barrett said the task force would work closely with police in Papua New Guinea as well as First Nations leaders in the Torres Strait.
“There is growing concern among First Nations leaders in Torres Strait and Bamaga that many of their youth are consuming illicit goods due to increased trafficking in the region,” said Commissioner Barrett.
In July 2020, five men were charged in Australia and four in PNG after a “black flight” containing 500kg of cocaine crashed north of Port Moresby.
Commissioner Barrett said the seven-man team will be based in Cairns and use intelligence from state, federal and international agencies to target organized criminals trying to exploit the “porous” border between PNG and North Queensland.
“Organized criminals pose a direct threat to Australia’s sovereignty and security and this means every resource, including all the capabilities available to our counter-terrorism teams, will be available to protect North Queensland,” he said.
“We are coming for them”
