A year-long Border Force investigation has implicated 70 Melbourne airport workers and airline crew in drug and illegal product smuggling operations. The accused individuals include baggage handlers, ground crew, and airline crew members.

Melbourne

Dozens of Melbourne airport workers and airline crew have been accused of assisting organised criminals in smuggling drugs and other illegal items into Australia. A year-long investigation conducted by the Australian Border Force has unearthed numerous security breaches.

The accused individuals include baggage handlers, ground crew, airline crew members, and other aviation security staff with access to Melbourne Airport's customs-controlled areas. In total, 70 workers have been implicated in using their high-level security access to facilitate smuggling operations.

The investigation has focused on aviation supply lines in Victoria and Tasmania, with allegations that some airline crew members engaged in the transportation and distribution of drugs. Additionally, international cabin crew members have been found bringing undeclared cash and tobacco products concealed in their luggage. Two international flight crew members have been reported to be under the influence of drugs while on duty.

The CEO of Melbourne Airport has issued a stern warning, emphasizing that those involved in such activities will be caught and held accountable. The CEO noted the airport's close collaboration with the Border Force and other security agencies, suggesting that the recent findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the system. The investigation is ongoing, with Border Force continuing to target aviation workers connected to organised crime.



Airport staff implicated in smuggling investigation

Well dozens of Melbourne airport workers and airline crew have been accused of helping organised criminals smuggle drugs and other illegal products into the country. A year-long Border Force investigation has uncovered scores of security breaches. Abbey Dinnam joins us from the Melbourne newsroom and Abbey who's been implicated? Ursula we're talking baggage handlers, ground crew, airline crew members, these are people with aviation, security staff who have access to the customs controlled areas of Melbourne Airport. They're the ones that have been implicated in this investigation. 70 workers have been accused of using their high-level security access to facilitate the smuggling of drugs and other illegal products. Border Force have been investigating these aviation supply lines in Victoria and Tasmania for the past year, accusing some airline crew members of taking and distributing drugs. The operation also found some international cabin crew members have been bringing in undeclared quantities of cash and tobacco products in the lining of their suitcase and two international flight crew members of being under the influence of drugs while on duty. Now the Melbourne Airport CEO today issued a stern warning to those doing the wrong thing saying you will be caught. I'm certainly concerned about the reports obviously and we work very closely with Border Force with all of our security agencies but what I would say is this would show that the system is working because Border Force has taken action and there will be consequences for those individuals. Border Force says their investigation doesn't end here they will continue to target aviation workers with links to organised crime.

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