An Australian Border Force (ABF) employee and an alleged organised crime figure have been charged with bribery and drug offences, following an investigation by a newly formed Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) involving the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and NSW Police.
Authorities allege the pair conspired to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia. The ABF employee, a 50-year-old supervisor, is accused of using her position to facilitate the importation of 6.9 kilograms of cocaine. She is set to appear at Downing Centre Local Court today, facing charges that include receiving a bribe, abuse of public office, unauthorised disclosure of information, and aiding and abetting the importation of border-controlled drugs. If convicted, she could face life imprisonment.
A 67-year-old Mount Pritchard man, who police allege has ties to organised crime, has also been charged with bribery and aiding drug importation. He will appear in Fairfield Local Court today. Two other men, aged 25 and 48, were charged with attempting to possess border-controlled drugs.
AFP Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney said the arrests strike a blow against the “double dealers” undermining national security.
“The MAST was set up in November last year to target employees who seem to be law-abiding Australians but instead are operating in the shadows of organised crime,” he said.
“We used to call these alleged offenders trusted insiders. However, they are really acting like double dealers by working both sides.”
Investigators claim the ABF employee received cash and high-value items over several months in exchange for ensuring the safe passage of the cocaine shipment. She allegedly provided details of a “dummy run”—a shipment of cosmetics from Malaysia on 21 February—to test border security responses.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald underscored the MAST’s commitment to exposing vulnerabilities at the border.
“Corruption is not just a betrayal of trust — it is a crime,” he said. “Those who enable drug smuggling and other organised crime activities are not only corrupt, they are criminals in every sense of the word.”
The MAST, which comprises 40 full-time investigators and analysts, is a joint initiative drawing on the expertise of multiple agencies, including the ABF, AUSTRAC, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the NSW Crime Commission, and the Australian Tax Office.
Australian Border Force Deputy Commissioner Tim Fitzgerald reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to upholding integrity within its ranks.
“There is no place within the Australian Border Force for people who are willing to abuse their position for criminal gain,” he said. “This should send a message to anyone willing to test our border controls: You will not succeed. You will be exposed, and you will face the full force of the law.”
The case forms part of Operation Proctor, one of three MAST investigations since its inception in November 2024. So far, seven individuals have been charged under its operations, highlighting the growing crackdown on corruption within Australia’s borders.
With almost 20 tonnes of illicit drugs seized in NSW last year and organised crime syndicates actively seeking “trusted insiders,” authorities warn that targeting internal corruption is a key step in dismantling major drug networks. The MAST, they say, will continue working to eliminate these enablers and strengthen Australia’s border security.
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