A 50-year-old woman, formerly a supervisor with the Australian Border Force (ABF), faces serious allegations of accepting bribes and facilitating drug imports in a case set to be heard in Sydney’s Downing Centre Court. The ABF claims she leveraged her position to help a seven-kilogram shipment of cocaine evade inspection by officials, working closely with organised crime as a ‘trusted insider’ or ‘double dealer’.
This case is part of a wider investigation initiated by a newly established task force aimed at cracking down on public officials colluding with criminal enterprises. Alongside the woman, three other individuals have been charged. Among them is a 67-year-old man from Mount Pritchard, accused of offering bribes and having connections to organised crime. He is expected to appear in Fairfield local court today.
Police allege that over recent months, the woman received cash and valuable gifts to ensure the ‘safe passage of parcels’ through border inspections. These parcels included a ‘dummy run’ of cosmetics imported from Malaysia on February 21, which she allegedly provided information about due to her access rights to cargo searches and internal systems.
The woman has been formally charged with a range of offenses, including receiving bribes, abusing her public office, disclosing sensitive information, and aiding in the importation of illegal drugs. The latter is a particularly grave charge, carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Additionally, two other men, aged 25 and 48, have been charged with attempting to possess border-controlled drugs and will also be appearing in court today.
The task force, although operational since November of the previous year, has only now been publicly disclosed for tactical reasons. AFP Deputy Commissioner for Crime Ian McCartney stressed that individuals involved in such schemes, previously deemed ‘trusted insiders,’ are effectively functioning as double dealers who betray their roles for personal gain.