Global drug syndicates targeting Australia

Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-06 12:20:48|Editor: Xiang Bo
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SYDNEY, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- A growing number of organized crime syndicates across the world are targeting the shores of Australia with over seven tons of illegal narcotics seized by law enforcement in the past three months.

Head of the International Operations Unit at the Australian Federal Police (AFP), assistant commissioner Scott Lee, explained to local media on Friday that since the beginning of this financial year, authorities have thwarted 22 major drug import attempts.

The most high profile seizure came in August, when the AFP and other international security agencies busted a group in the Netherlands.

Among the haul was 1.8 tons of MDMA, 136 kg of cocaine and 15 kg of methamphetamine, which the organization planned to smuggle into Australia.

The problem facing law enforcement now, according to Lee, is that the emerging criminal groups of today have vast, very far-reaching global networks.

The reason for this newly formed, multinational approach to drug crime, according to Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, is due to advances in technology and digital infrastructure.

"Organized crime is now a transnational business," a spokesperson told Xinhua.

"With these advances in technology dissolving the borders that previously protected people from overseas threats, this has left Australian vulnerable."

To combat the sophisticated syndicates, Australian authorities have looked to build relationships with other international law enforcement bodies.

Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan said that strengthening international engagement, with a focus on disrupting the supply of methamphetamine at its source, is an important measure.

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