New forensics lab to fight import of illegal items in Australia's post
Australia's largest mail processing centre is using a new forensics lab to detect and test for illegal items sent in the mail, such as drugs and weapons.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) forensics rapid lab will be based in the Granville processing facility to screen suspicious packages.
A significant number of drugs and weapons arrive in the mail, often concealed in letters and books.
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A forensics lab will test for illicit items such as weapons and drugs. 9News
A significant number of illegal weapons are sent via the post. 9News
Some of those weapons arriving in the mail include torch tasers, blade pens, purse knuckledusters and knives concealed in toy guns.
More than 80 per cent of Australia's international mail is processed at the Granville facility, sparking the decision to introduce the new forensics lab.
Last year, the Australian Border Force seized 24,000 letters and packages containing illicit substances.
This is a significant increase on previous years due to the rise of mail traffic during the pandemic.
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The number of illicit items found in the mail rose in 2021. 9News
The AFP lab will be able to fingerprint the items. 9News
The AFP's new lab will have four officers stationed at the Australia Post site and will even feature a dark room to collect fingerprints.
It's promising to speed up the process of detecting illicit substances in packages.
"Normally with these packages, you'd have to send them off to a lab and it'd take days to get the results back," one of the officers said.
"So this is happening instantly on the spot, it's coming straight off the conveyor belt to us and we're able to give results within minutes."
The lab will provide results in minutes. 9News
Four AFP officers will be stationed at the lab checking incoming post. 9News
The introduction of the lab has also sparked a renewed warning from authorities to anyone looking to import illicit items through Australia's postal system.
"If you're going to import illicit firearms and drugs through the international mail system, expect a knock at the door from the AFP either here or through our worldwide network," AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said.
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It comes as Australia cracks down on the importation of illicit items. 9News
There are hopes the facility will allow Australia to provide information collected about illicit drug and weapon importation to international counterparts.
"The rapid results of this new facility will also allow us to share intelligence with our overseas partners to prevent further high-risk consignments reaching Australia," Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram said.
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