Australian Federal Police

Members of the Pacific Police Support Group (PPSG) have arrived in Vanuatu to provide support to their Vanuatu Police Force colleagues as earthquake recovery efforts continue. Among those deployed are three AFP members, three Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) members and three Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary members. The PPSG is part of the Pacific Policing Initiative which aims to enhance the safety and security of our Pacific communities by fostering collaboration and innovation in policing. The PPSG comprises of a pool of trained Pacific police who, together with the AFP, are ready to deploy to Pacific nations in support of major event management or additional capacity in times of crisis. These members are in addition to the nine AFP members who were deployed to Vanuatu earlier this week.

🎄 Day 21 of 24 in our #AFPAdventcalendar: The AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) restrained over $110 million in assets in the last financial year, bringing the total tally to $1.2 billion in seized criminal assets in the last five years. A critical strategy of the AFP’s fight against organised crime includes targeting the illicit wealth of criminals to prevent them from using it to fund further illegal activities. Asset restraints often focus on proceeds of crime from money laundering and drug trafficking, however they also extend to crimes involving child exploitation, human trafficking, cybercrime, fraud and national security. Some of the assets restrained by the CACT, include waterfront properties, mansions, cash, cryptocurrency, weapons and luxury items. The proceeds of confiscated assets are placed into the Commonwealth’s Confiscated Assets Account and are re-directed by the Attorney-General into crime prevention, law enforcement and other community related initiatives.

The AFP’s Forensic Search and Imagery (FSI) team has met with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Centre for Forensic Science, to collaborate, share knowledge and lead discussions about the world-leading discipline. Search and Imagery specialists are trained to locate concealed evidence using a range of detection techniques, digitally capture crime scenes and create a range of products, like models and visualisations, to support investigations. During the session, UTS staff learnt about the AFP’s unique search capabilities, their impact on investigations, and took part in practical scenarios where FSI demonstrated searching for concealed evidence in the specially designed Crime Scene Suite, using systematic techniques. Ongoing collaboration is planned between FSI and UTS, which will help progress research and inspire further exploration and growth of the Forensic search discipline.

🔔 Day 20 of 24 in our #AFPAdventcalendar: The AFP is concerned over children accessing violent extremist material and propaganda online, leading to an increasing threat of youth radicalisation. The AFP is urging parents to be aware of who their children are communicating with online, what online games they are playing and what they are viewing and accessing online – especially given many young people will be given tech for Christmas. Since 1 January 2020, the AFP, alongside its Joint Counter Terrorism Team partners, has investigated and conducted operational activity against 37 individuals aged 17 years or younger - with the youngest aged 12 years old. Fifty-seven per cent of these individuals were charged with Commonwealth or state-based offences.

May your journey be merry and bright, stay safe wherever you take flight! Happy holidays from the AFP at Brisbane Airport! We’re counting down to a smooth take-off (and landing) into the New Year 🎊

Two members of a Victorian-based criminal syndicate have been jailed over one of Australia’s largest methamphetamine seizures. They attempted to smuggle more than one billion dollars’ worth of illicit drugs into Australia, concealed inside stereo speakers sent from Thailand to Melbourne. The syndicate coordinator, an Elwood man, 42, was sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 21 years. His co-offender, a Darley man, 43, was handed a 21-year jail term, with a non-parole period of 14 years. In total, authorities seized 1.596 tonne of methamphetamine and 37kg of heroin, with an estimated street value of $1.255 billion. At the time of the seizure, this amount was equal to almost 16 million drug deals. Imagine the devastating impact that would have had on our streets.

Nine AFP members have deployed to Vanuatu as part of an initial response to the devastating earthquake. These members have a variety of specialist skills that will assist the emergency response including technical operations, specialist operations and disaster victim identification (DVI). They will join the eight AFP members posted in Vanuatu who are already working with their Vanuatu Police Force colleagues in the Joint Policing Operations Centre and in the community assessing damage, resources and contingency planning for the required police response. The AFP stands ready for any further requests from Vanuatu for additional support including specialist capabilities (including further DVI support) and generalist frontline policing support. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this devastating event. 

Congratulations are in order for AFP Commander Kate Ferry who has been awarded for Excellence in Leadership at the 2024 Financial Integrity Hub Financial Crime Fighter of the Year Awards. The award honours outstanding leadership that exemplifies care, collaboration, and purpose. With over two decades of experience, Cmdr Ferry has led initiatives to strengthen Australia’s financial integrity and combat complex criminal networks. A champion of collaboration, policy advocacy and mentorship, she continues to shape the AFP’s approach to tackling financial crime and developing future leaders.

🛷 Day 19 of 24 in our #AFPAdventcalendar: The AFP is protecting Australian parliamentarians, as reports of threats rise. In the past financial year, the AFP received 1,009 reports of incidents involving harassment, nuisance, offensive and threatening communications to Australian federal parliamentarians. This is a 42% increase from the previous year. The AFP has zero tolerance for threats or violence towards parliamentarians and the AFP works closely with state law enforcement agencies to investigate such threats. The AFP utilises various capabilities in delivering protective services, such as Protective Service Officers, Close Personal Protection, Security Protection and Diplomatic Liaison and other AFP specialist resources including, Tactical Response, Canine Support, Bomb Response and Maritime Operations. If you are interested in a career with the AFP visit: www.afp.gov.au/jobs.

🤶 Day 18 of 24 in our #AFPAdventcalendar: Ready to start your career as an AFP Protective Service Officer (PSO)? Applications are now open to be an AFP PSO at one of Australia’s most unique locations: Pine Gap, which is one of the AFP’s most critical protection sites, located just outside of Alice Springs, NT. The role of a PSO is open to anyone, from those finishing high school to those looking for a career change who meet the eligibility requirements. Responsibilities include foot, bike and vehicle patrols of the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap, providing static protection services, acting as first responders in matters of national security and reporting on operational data. Apply now to join us as a PSO recruit in 2025, with multiple courses scheduled at the AFP College. To learn more, visit: https://lnkd.in/gMdveBnN. Applications close on 31 December, 2024.