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Key factors
- Drug syndicates have been coercing aged passengers caught in on-line scams to smuggle medicine into Australia.
- Since October 2021, the AFP has arrested 18 alleged drug mules coming from worldwide flights.
- Some mentioned they have been “coerced into the position” after they grew to become victims of on-line monetary scams.
Drug syndicates have been coercing aged passengers caught in on-line scams to smuggle medicine into Australia to repay their money owed.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) say the drug mule development was uncovered following a sequence of drug detections by the Australian Border Drive (ABF) at Sydney Worldwide Airport involving aged and susceptible passengers for the reason that reopening of worldwide border.
Since October 2021, the AFP has arrested 18 alleged drug mules coming from worldwide flights.
A number of the accused smugglers carrying illicit medicine of their baggage advised the AFP that they had been “coerced into the position” after they grew to become victims of on-line monetary scams.
AFP Commander Kate Ferry mentioned it was not stunning felony syndicates have been attempting out new techniques to convey medicine into the nation.
“Prison syndicates, by their very nature, exploit susceptible communities and can undertake no matter techniques essential to import medicine into our nation,” she mentioned on Sunday.
“We have now sadly seen situations the place individuals haven’t solely fallen sufferer to basic inheritance or funding scams and misplaced their cash, however they’re then provided false hope to regain their cash, some unwittingly working as drug mules for the felony syndicate.”
“The results for these victims could be extreme, together with prolonged phrases of imprisonment”.
The AFP mentioned two aged US nationals have been caught at Sydney with 15kg of methamphetamine and 1.5kg of cocaine stashed within the linings of their baggage.
The US nationals advised police that they had flown into Zimbabwe the place they obtained the suitcases from the felony syndicate.
They have been compelled to behave as drug mules after being fleeced out of $US500,000 in a web-based rip-off. Their journey preparations had allegedly been made by a Nigerian and a UK nationwide.
The ABF additionally arrested two aged German nationals at Sydney with two suitcases allegedly containing a complete of 18kg of methamphetamine.
The couple additionally advised police that they had flown into Zimbabwe the place the suitcases have been offered to them with preparations made by way of a UK cellphone quantity.
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