Sydney Customs 'helped drug mules'
- Published: 20 Dec 2012 at 09.10
- Online news:
SYDNEY - Customs officials at Sydney Airport conspired with drug mules and even arranged drug-smuggling trips to Thailand, and then escorted the traffickers past checkpoints into Australia, investigators charged Thursday.
Authorities arrested eight people including two customs officers, and accused them of being ringleaders of a major drug trafficking gang.The arrests followed a two-year investigation into corruption within the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service."We're currently investigating a whole range of leads that may result in further charges being levied and also further individuals being arrested," Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Tony Negus told a press conference in Sydney Thursday morning.In a specific case, customs officers arranged for two women to travel to Thailand, purchase 10kg of pseudoephedrine to make methamphetamine, and then escorted the returning "tourists" past customs checkpoints into Sydney.The officers allegedly met their accomplices at the plane, escorted them through the Customs area of the...
This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.
