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Border Watch – Keeping Illicit Cargo Out of Australia

Recently we had a representative from Border Watch come out and give a presentation on how illicit goods can enter Australia and what to look out for. In the past financial year (2022-2023) AFP have prevented up to 49 tonnes of illicit drugs from reaching Australia, 29 tonnes of which were methamphetamines. The biggest countries […]
CPTPP – Entry into Force for other parties

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will enter into force for Malaysia on 29 November 2022. CPTPP entered into force for Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Mexico and Singapore on 30 December 2018, Vietnam on 14 January 2019, and Peru on 19 September 2021. Under the CPTPP, an importer may make a […]
Demurrage Vs Detention

Here at EES Shipping we try and identify the terminology that is often used incorrectly or simply not understood at all. What exactly are these charges? The easiest way to keep demurrage rates and detention fees straight is as follows: demurrage rates are charged on containers inside the port or terminal, whereas detention fees are […]
ABF Detector Dog Program

We’re sharing the details of an amazing program that allows you to be come a foster carer for an Australian Border Force (Detector dog) puppy. Detector dogs help the Australian Border Force protect Australia’s borders.   Detector dogs to find prohibited and restricted goods. They can check people, products and large areas quickly, without discrimination […]
Record $148 million heroin bust made at UK port

Does container shipping have a drug problem? After a string of busts in the U.S. in recent months, attention has now switched to the U.K., where authorities have seized 1,279 kilograms of heroin with a street value of £130 million ($148 million). The drugs were found Aug. 30 by officers from Border Force and the […]
Clothing used to conceal half a tonne of ‘ice’ in container

Four men have been charged and methylamphetamine (ice) with a street value of almost $400m has been seized after a joint investigation involving New South Wales police and Australian Border Force. ABF officers examined a container declared to contain clothing at the Sydney Container Examination Facility in June 2019. Six of the 10 pallets were […]
ABF tightens the screws on aluminum dumping

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has issued duty demands of more than $15 million to combat duty evasion on aluminum from China. The ABF announced these results as part of an ongoing two year investigation into the dumping of aluminum extrusions, mostly used to mount solar panels, in the Australian marketplace. Dumping occurs when an […]
Biggest ever onshore ice seizure in Australia

Australian authorities have made the biggest ever onshore seizure of the drug ice, equivalent to almost 16 million drug deals. Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in Melbourne found nearly 1.6 tonnes of the illegal drugs hidden in stereo speakers from Bangkok, Thailand. There are no arrests yet and the investigation is continuing. Almost 1.6 tonnes […]
1.3 tonne ephedrine seizure; four arrests in Melbourne

A joint multi-national investigation into an organised crime syndicate has resulted in the arrest of four men and the seizure of 1.3 tonnes of the drug precursor ephedrine in Melbourne. Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigators arrested a 53-year-old Wheeler’s Hill man, a 55-year-old Box Hill man and two Chinese nationals, both aged 26 years old, […]
Police find drugs in container full of bananas

New Zealand’s largest cocaine seizure – approximately 190 kilograms of cocaine – was secreted in a shipping container of bananas and was intercepted in New Zealand en route to Australia. A 41-year-old man was arrested in the Sydney CBD on Thursday (15 November) in connection with the shipment. The arrest comes after a joint international […]
ABF detector dogs selected to work in Singapore

Four narcotics and explosives Detector Dogs, bred and trained by the Australian Border Force (ABF), will soon be protecting the community in Singapore after being hand-picked by the Singapore Police Force K-9 Unit. Commanding Officer, Soh Puay Hwee, and Station Inspector, Chia Chee spent several days at the ABF’s National Detector Dog Facility near Bulla, […]
More than 110 native reptiles saved from illegal export

In the last three months alone, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers have stopped a total of 20 separate consignments containing more than 110 reptiles from being illegally exported overseas. Officers intercepted a total of eight consignments in July, with six consignments intercepted in one week alone in boxes labelled as toys, kids and baby clothing […]
Illicit Tobacco Smuggling – Adelaide

Two Chinese nationals have been arrested after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers allegedly caught them in the act of collecting a shipment of approximately 1.3 million illicit cigarettes from China. The investigation began after ABF officers at the Adelaide Container Examination Facility located the illicit tobacco in a shipping container labelled as ‘outdoor furniture’. Source: […]
Game Over for Smuggler

A man faced court on Friday 22 June after he was arrested by the Australian Border Force (ABF) for allegedly importing two kilograms of pseudoephedrine, an illicit drug pre-cursor, hidden in board games. On 14 June, the parcel containing the drugs was detected in international mail at the Sydney Gateway Facility and referred to the […]
Udder Madness

A 25-year-old Chinese national has been arrested in Hobart, becoming the third person charged by Australian Border Force (ABF), for importing over 101 kilograms of ephedrine concealed in cow milking machines. On 11 July 2017, ABF officers at the Sydney Container Examination facility targeted a consignment from China for examination. X-ray screening revealed anomalies in […]
Three men charged over ICE shipment

A NSW Joint Organised Crime Group (JOCG) investigation into a 200-kilogram shipment of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) hidden inside machinery on the 9th May resulted in the arrest of three men in Sydney’s south-west. The JOCG is a multiagency taskforce comprising members from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), NSW Police Force (NSWPF), Australian Border Force (ABF), […]
Illicit drugs hidden in caravan

Two men have faced court for allegedly attempting to smuggle 91kg of MDMA and 3kg of ice into Australia, with the illicit drugs hidden in a caravan shipped from the UK. On 15 April, the Australian Border Force (ABF) identified the sea cargo consignment from the United Kingdom as being of interest and conducted further […]
MDMA found in air freight shipment

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested three men in Sydney yesterday, following the seizure of approximately 140 kilograms of MDMA in Sydney last week. The operation began on Wednesday, 21 March 2018, when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers examined a consignment containing eight boxes of water filters, after it arrived into Sydney Airport via air […]
Molasses tobacco seized

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has arrested two Melbourne men for attempting to import over three tonnes of molasses tobacco into Australia. The investigation commenced after ABF officers at the Melbourne Container Examination Facility (CEF) inspected a shipping container which arrived from United Arab Emirates. ABF officers x-rayed the container and identified a false wall […]
Highlighter Ice Smugglers

Authorities discovered a shipping container with almost 300 kilograms of ephedrine secreted in 21,000 highlighter pens, carrying out raids and making arrests last week. The container carrying five pallets of pens and other stationery arrived in Sydney from China on 10 February and was taken to the ABF’s Sydney Container Examination Facility for x-ray. It […]
Border Watch

Criminals are on notice this week with the start of the latest Border Watch awareness campaign encouraging Australians to flag all suspicious or illegal border related activity. For 20 years Border Watch (formerly called Customs Watch and Customs Hotline) has provided members of the public and industry the means to contribute to the Australian Border […]
Latest Seizures by the ABF

There has been many seizures made in the last few months by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers. Today we thought that we would share with you three of the larger finds. GBL Seizure One of Australia’s largest seizures of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) has been made in Sydney.  ABF officers physically examined a shipping container that arrived […]
Pawfect setting to thank Detector Dog foster carers

A special Australian Border Force (ABF) event has given praise to hundreds of individuals and families who have supported the ABFs Detector Dog Program by acting as foster carers for their puppies. ABFs state-of-the-art detector dog facility at Bulla in Melbourne, provided a distinct backdrop for the special BBQ event, which thanked those who provide […]
No rest for ABF officers

While most Australians were enjoying Christmas and New Year’s Eve with their family and friends, thousands of Australian Border Force (ABF) officers were on duty at airports, seaports and international mail facilities around the country, screening holiday travellers and incoming mail and cargo. Between 22 December 2017 and 2 January 2018, ABF officers detected over […]
Dept of Home Affairs

We’re coming up to a new year and it appears that 2018 will start with a re-brand of Australia’s National Security and Intelligence arrangements.  The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP, which was formally known as Australian Customs) will now come under the umbrella of the Department of Home Affairs. The Australian Border Force, […]
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug 2017-2018 Update

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources have provided us with another update on this season of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: This notice is of interest to importers associated with the importation of containerised Italian goods during the BMSB risk season (1 September 2017 to 30 April 2018 inclusive). The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources […]
Border Watch Programme

Border Watch is the Australian Border Force’s single collection point for community and industry information about activities which seek to undermine Australia’s immigration and citizenship programmes, or attempt to circumvent Australia’s customs, trade and border protection controls. By reporting suspicious, unlawful or criminal activities targeting Australia’s border, you can play a vital role in helping […]
Cocaine hidden in cocoa

Authorities say they have seized about 300 kilograms of cocaine imported into Melbourne via an air cargo consignment of cocoa powder packed on pallets. Two Mexican men (aged 33 and 34) are set to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court, with the drugs said to have an estimated street value of around $105m. According to a […]
Calls for tougher asbestos penalties

The federal government is being urged to consider increasing penalties for illegally importing asbestos. A Labor-led Senate committee is also calling for compulsory recalls where asbestos is found in consumer products. It has made more than two dozen recommendations in an interim report released on Wednesday arising from an inquiry into non-conforming building products. The […]
Record drug and precursor seizure

A record 3.9 tonnes of ephedrine, plus 350 kilograms of methamphetamine, have been seized and three people arrested as a result of joint investigations between the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Investigations began with information originating from Thai authorities, about suspected large-scale imports of border controlled drugs into Sydney. In […]
Joint agencies unhinge meth import plan

Three men have been arrested by the Victorian Joint Organised Crime Task Force (JOCTF), following an alleged attempt to import 17 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed within a consignment of door hinges. Investigations began in August 2017, after the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) identified a number of Malaysian nationals suspected of planning a drug importation. […]
Something Fishy

Australian Border Force (ABF) investigators have arrested and charged a 37-year-old Chinese national with allegedly importing more than 9.5 kilograms of ephedrine concealed inside dried fish and other dried seafood. On 8 July 2017 a consignment marked as ‘dried food’, sent via express mail from China, was selected for further examination by ABF officers at […]
Sydney: 375kg of ice seized

Two Chinese men are accused of being part of a criminal syndicate that imported 370 kilograms of ephedrine into Australia hidden in wall tiles, canisters and cow milking machines. Huan Tang and Yanpei Zhang were arrested in a raid on a residential property in Dundas in western Sydney, on Thursday after police a fortnight ago […]
Drug cartel busted

An international drug cartel unsuccessfully tried to use drones to outfox authorities who found more than $30 million worth of cocaine and $580,000 cash seized in raids in Melbourne. Seven men were arrested across the city as police seized 78 boxes of the illegal drug. Four of the men were Australian, two were Canadian and […]
Border-controlled drugs seized

An investigation into a threat by bikies has resulted in the largest seizure of ephedrine on record and the arrest of a drug supply syndicate during a multi-agency operation in NSW and ACT. Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Gangs Squad commenced an investigation in December 2016 following reports of an extortion involving members of […]
119 kilograms of ice seized

Three men associated with an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) have been charged following a major multi-agency drug operation resulting in the seizure of approximately 119 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $119 million. This operation, which has successfully disrupted an organised crime syndicate operating in Australia, involved the combined forces of […]
Creepy crawly cargo caught out

A biosecurity sneaker has been sprung attempting to smuggle a dangerous combination of live reptiles and arachnids in a box marked ‘2 pair shoes’. Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in Melbourne x-rayed an international mail consignment from Northern Europe on 14 March and saw there were reptiles, and consulted biosecurity staff from the Department of […]
Major Meth Haul Found

A joint investigation by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has resulted in three men being charged for importing approximately three hundred kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia. ABF officers in Melbourne examined a consignment of metal gates that arrived into port from China.  X-ray images showed abnormalities within the gates.  […]
Drugs hidden in floor of shipping container

After 101kg of crystal methamphetamine – or “ice” – was found hidden in the floor of a shipping container, five men were arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle the drug. According to a joint statement between the AFP, NSW Police, ABF, ACIC and the NSW Crime Commission, the operation began with information from Taskforce […]
Smuggle Bug

A Czech national has been fined $2000 for attempting to smuggle thousands of insects on a flight out of Australia. On 20 February 2017, the man was boarding a flight from Perth to Abu Dhabi when he was selected by the Australian Border Force (ABF) officers for a baggage examination. ABF officers examined the bags […]
Meth worth $324 million seized

Seven men and a woman have been charged for their alleged involvement in the importation of 540 kilograms methamphetamine into Sydney. The total street value of the drugs is approximately $324 million. The men appeared in Sydney Central Local Court yesterday following the culmination of a joint operation conducted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) […]
ABF Border Holds

Please note that this article has been taken directly from Lloyds List Australia / Zoran Kostadinoski – CBFCA – all credit given In May 2002, the Government announced ‘The Protecting Our Borders’ program to help control illegal movement of people and goods while at the same time ensuring law abiding citizens and traders suffer minimal […]
Kitchen utensils conceal meth

A joint operation, between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Border Force (ABF), has resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of approximately $162 million. Two men, aged 42 and 22, have been charged with serious drug importation offences as a result of this operation which police will allege […]
Life Long Friends

A number of Australian service men and women will soon have a new furry friend as part of an arrangement between the Australian Border Force (ABF) and Soldier On. Source: The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection Service Image Library The K9 Support program, launched in Sydney today, will see dogs not suitable for […]
Drugs concealed with charcoal

Four men have been arrested in Sydney and Melbourne for allegedly importing approximately 254kg of cocaine and 104kg of methyl-amphetamine into Australia. Combined, the drugs had an estimated combined value in excess of $186 million. An Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation commenced in December 2016 after the Australian Border Force (ABF) targeted a cargo consignment […]
Fantasy beauty products

Late last year the Australian Border Force (ABF), Border Watch and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) warned the public about the deadly drug, Fantasy, being concealed inside beauty products imported from China. There has been a steep increase, 261% over the last three years, of the drug gammabutyrolactone being illegally imported. Gammabutyrolacton (GBL), also known […]
Counterfeit Shipping Containers

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) (via Border Watch) are currently warning Importers on the importance of being vigilant. A counterfeit shipping container (also known as a fake, cloned or re-birthed container) is a container that has had its unique identifier erased from its exterior and replaced with that of another legitimate containers […]
Latest ABF Finds

Today we thought that we would wrap up some of the finds made by the officers at Australian Border Force (ABF) in the last few months of 2016. Ephedrine ABC’s Two men have been charged with importing 26.5 kilograms of ephedrine worth $2.3 million. ABF officers in Sydney inspected three cartons that arrived from China […]