'Disturbing' new drug smuggling trend hitting Australia, Border Force warns
Baby bibs, dummies, sippy cups - and cocaine.
That's the concerning combination of goods Australian Border Force (ABF) officers have intercepted in a number of thwarted attempts to smuggle drugs into Australia.
Transnational criminals are allegedly inserting sealed packages of ketamine and cocaine into packs of baby wipes before sending them to Australia via international mail in what the ABF has called a "disturbing" new trend.
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The parcels of ketamine and cocaine were picked up on scanners when they were being imported into Australia via international mail. Australian Border Force
Many of the parcels included other baby items, such as bibs, dummies, toys and sippy cups. Australian Border Force
ABF Acting Commander Troy Sokoloff said disguising deadly drugs in products used by the most vulnerable members of society demonstrated zero regard for the Australian community.
The most recent drug seizures include 641g of ketamine sent to a Brisbane address, 150g of cocaine sent to Jindalee, Queensland, and 600g of ketamine posted to St Kilda in Melbourne - all concealed inside baby wipes.
Sydney addresses have also been targeted, with two separate parcels of 500g of ketamine inside baby wipes posted to addresses in Glebe and Randwick.
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The sealed packages of drugs were inserted in between the baby wipes, in hopes they would escape detection. Australian Border Force
"Criminals who attempt to flood Australia with border-controlled drugs are motivated solely by greed and personal gain," Sokoloff said.
"They have no regard for the pain and suffering these harmful drugs inflict on people, their families, and their communities."
Investigations into the seizures are ongoing, in consultation with domestic and international law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
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