Border Force News

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has praised the swift actions of the Anindilyakwa Land and Sea Rangers and Northern Territory Police following the detection and apprehension of foreign fishers on Groote Eylandt on December 9.It comes amid two other apprehensions in separate operations this month in which authorities seized more than 400kg of sea cucumber, 2,200kg of other catch and assorted fishing equipment.All three vessels have been destroyed, and the ABF has transported…

Almost A$9 million ($6 million) worth of cocaine hidden inside a refrigerated shipping container (reefer) has been seized after Australian authorities intercepted the cargo on its arrival into Port Botany in New South Wales.Australian Border Force officers identified the consignment and conducted an x-ray examination which identified anomalies in the rear of the container.Further examination located 22 individually wrapped plastic blocks, with an estimated total weight of 27kg. Presumptive testing of the consignment returned a positive reading for cocaine.

Australian Border Force (ABF) officers posted overseas in Beijing have prevented over 600,000 illegal vapes from hitting Australia’s streets after information sharing led to the referral of almost 70 high risk containers.The majority of the seized vapes - which had a street value of approximately $30 million, arrived into NSW between September and October 2025.The information allowed ABF officers to identify several other shipments related to the initial referrals, with majority of the containers falsely described as items such as glass bottles…

Human trafficking remains one of the most lucrative and devastating crimes in the world, second only to the illicit drug trade. Today, an estimated 50 million people are living in modern slavery.To combat this crisis, Invisible Traffick, a Northern Ireland–based charity, is providing both in-person and online training to help maritime professionals recognize the warning signs of human trafficking and make the invisible, visible.Invisible Traffick’s founder and CEO, Gayle Bunting…

The Australian Border Force (ABF) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) have seized almost 65kg of cocaine potentially worth more than A$21 million ($14 million) from a shipping container in Brisbane.The consignment came from Panama and was declared as 20 packages containing 2380 wooden slats.Officers x-rayed the shipping container and noticed anomalies within its flooring that turned out to be 108 bricks of a white substance wrapped in black plastic.ABF detector dogs attended and provided a positive indication of narcotics within the consignment.

The Australian Border Force (ABF) led a week of action in Portland last month, targeting criminal infiltration along Victoria's south-west coastline.The high visibility activity forms part of a broader operation to prevent organized crime groups from using the Australian border as a means for illegal activity, including trafficking illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.The week of action also focused on the threat of trusted insiders and involved community engagement to spread awareness of the Border Watch program…

In total, 18 Indonesian nationals have pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in three separate cases at Australia’s Darwin Local Court.The Australian Border Force seized hundreds of kilograms of sea cucumber, detained crews and destroyed three fishing vessels in accordance with Australian law.The fishers pleaded guilty to offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth).Fines of A$3,000 and four to eight weeks of prison time were handed down.All fishers…

A union representing British Border Force workers said on Friday that more than 120 staff who patrol Britain's waters, in "sometimes harrowing roles", plan to strike on November 14 to protest over pay and working conditions.The majority of the UK's around 10,000 Border Force staff work in airports and ports across the country and overseas.

Over the past month, Australian Border Force (ABF) has destroyed seven foreign vessels and detained the crews after they were allegedly caught fishing illegally in waters off northern Australia.Authorities seized a combined total of 1,930kg of sea cucumber, 2,844kg of other catch as well as assorted fishing equipment.All vessels have been destroyed in accordance with Australian law and the crews brought to Darwin for investigation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority…

The Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police Service, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) authorities have successfully completed the latest Joint Cross Border Patrol in the Torres Strait.Running from September 22 to 27, officers visited communities in Daru, Sigabadaru and Ture Ture in PNG, and Saibai and Boigu Islands in the Torres Strait.The joint activity forms part of Australia and PNG's shared mission to protect the border from threats such as drugs and firearms trafficking…

Australian and Indonesian authorities have jointly patrolled 24,000 square nautical miles of ocean to the north of Australia during a week-long operation to combat illegal maritime activity in the region.The annual joint patrol aims to improve coordination between Australian and Indonesian authorities to deter, detect and respond to illegal maritime activities, including illegal foreign fishing. Six vessels were boarded during the operation.Operation JAWLINE ARAFURA ran from September…

Border Force workers on patrol in the English Channel, whose job includes searching for small boats carrying migrants, will be balloted over strike action, a union statement on Friday said.More than 120 Border Force Maritime workers will be balloted over whether to walk-out in a dispute over frozen allowances and terms and conditions, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said.The ballot is open until October 17.As part of government Border Force patrols, the workers' duties include searching for vessels at sea and identifying boats engaged in smuggling as well as small boats crossin

ABF disposed of all four vessels and will bring the crews to Darwin, NT for further investigation by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority for suspected offences against the Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth).Australian Border Force (ABF) has destroyed four foreign fishing vessels in three separate locations and detained their crews for allegedly fishing illegally in Australian waters. A combined total of more than 280kg of catch was seized. On 24 August 2025, the ABF…

Two Norwegian nationals have been jailed in Australia for attempting to possess 80kg of cocaine smuggled in as a parasitic attachment on the hull of a bulk carrier.A man, 53, was sentenced by the Newcastle District Court to nine years’ and 11 months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years and 11 months.His accomplice, 35, was sentenced by the same court to 10 years’ and two months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of five years and nine months.The men were charged as part of the AFP’s Operation Oakey which began in January 23…

The Australian Federal Policy (AFP) has charged two men for allegedly trying to take possession of 140kg of cocaine hidden inside two marine engines. Investigations began in October, 2024, when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in Brisbane detected a large quantity of plastic-wrapped blocks inside two wooden-crated marine engines. The engines, each weighing about 4.5 tonnes, arrived from the United States.AFP officers removed the cocaine, replaced it with an inert substance, and inserted the new blocks back inside the engines.

Nineteen Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in three separate cases at Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, 8 July 2025.The matters arose from incidents where Australian authorities identified, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally on June 22, 2025 in the Cobourg Marine Park, Northern Territory and two Indonesian vessels fishing illegally on June 25, 2025 near Maningrida, Northern Territory.The crews were detained, and the Australian Border Force (ABF) seized the vessels.

Australian Border Force (ABF) has intercepted a foreign fishing vessel and apprehended seven crew members for allegedly fishing illegally in waters off the Northern Territory, Australia, after Bawinanga Rangers originally sighted the craft near Maningrida.Officers boarded the vessel and seized 750kg of sea cucumber, 30kg of salt used to preserve catch, and fishing equipment.Authorities destroyed the vessel at sea in accordance with Australian law.The fishers have been brought…

Ten Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in separate cases at Darwin Local Court on April 29 and 30, 2025. The first case arose from an incident on April 3, 2025, when Australian authorities identified, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally near Parry Harbor, Western Australia. Authorities seized 420 kg of sea cucumber, 300 kg of salt used to process and preserve catch, and fishing equipment including a 50-meter line with hooks and a trawling device.

Australian Border Force (ABF) has apprehended 14 foreign fishers and destroyed two foreign fishing vessels in two recent interceptions, as operations targeting illegal fishing continue across the country's northern waters.On 28 March 2025, the ABF, in partnership with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), detected and apprehended an Indonesian vessel allegedly found to be fishing illegally near Croker Island, Northern Territory.Nine fishers were identified on board. Officers boarded and inspected the vessel, identifying 750kg of salt used to preserve catch and a variety of fishing equipment. The interception occurred…

Over the past month, the Australian Border Force has intercepted 12 illegal foreign fishing vessels in waters off the Northern Territory, seizing over six tonnes of sea cucumber, 500kg of other catch, and over two tonnes of salt, which is used to preserve the catch.Operation LUNAR is multi-agency operation in the Northern Territory established on December 8, 2024 to target the increase in illegal fishing along the +10,000km of remote Northern Territory coastline.Eleven Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters at Darwin Local Court on January 7…

Eleven men and two juveniles have been charged following an investigation into a transnational organized crime syndicate accused of conspiring to import 2.34 tonnes of cocaine into Australia by sea.This is the largest ever seizure of cocaine in Australia. The cocaine had an estimated street value of about A$760 million ($494 million) with the potential to equate to 11.7 million individual street deals, had it reached the community.The men, including the crew of a vessel allegedly…

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has successfully detected and interdicted 14 foreign fishing vessels, with a total of 112 crew onboard, in northern Australian waters.Operations were conducted between November 14 and 18, and the interdictions resulted in an apprehension and the seizure of catch and a variety of fishing and fishing-related equipment including:• 550 kilograms of sea cucumber (worth up to AUD$55,000)• 200 kilograms of fish (a combination of dried and fresh product)• 2…

Nine Indonesian nationals who pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters at Darwin Local Court have had their vessel destroyed.On September 19, 2024, Australian authorities apprehended the them as they fished illegally for sea cucumber in the vicinity of Augustus Island, Western Australia.Authorities seized 350 kilograms of sea cucumber worth up to approximately A$30,000 ($20,000 or more than 300 million Indonesian Rupiah) along with 175 kilograms of salt (used for preserving catch) and a large quantity of fishing equipment.