SMUGGLERS increasingly exploit legitimate commercial shipments to conceal narcotics.
This was highlighted by the Australian Border Force (ABF) during a virtual training with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service border team last week.
Fiji Revenue and Customs Service said the training focused on advanced techniques used by traffickers in smuggling illicit drugs through international supply chains.
FRCS said the training highlighted alarming trends observed at Australian borders, where smugglers increasingly exploit legitimate commercial shipments to conceal narcotics.
The methods according to FRCS involves hiding drugs within cargo containers from the port of origin to their final destination, often using highly sophisticated techniques to evade detection.
Customs said that among these tactics were the use of counterfeit seals, tampering with original container seals, and the notorious rip-on/riff-off method where traffickers infiltrated containers without disturbing the legitimate cargo.
During the training the Australian Border Force highlighted about concealment strategies as the ‘coke on a rope’ technique, where drugs were hidden inside compartments of refrigerated containers.
Customs said those methods had been detected more frequently during targeted inspections, underscoring the importance of risk profiling and prioritisation in customs operations.
FRCS officers have committed to intensifying their efforts by deploying both intrusive and non-intrusive inspection techniques which includes deconstructing cargo and containers flagged through risk assessments to eliminate the possibility of illicit drug concealment.
The organisation plans to implement targeted operations focusing on void spaces within shipping containers, ensuring comprehensive examinations to disrupt cross-border criminal activities.
The training was facilitated by superintendent and Pacific offshore counsellor, Uriah Turner alongside his ABF counterparts.
FRCS said the collaboration marked a significant step towards enhancing information exchange and joint operations between the two agencies.
In a gesture of support, ABF donated two advanced “Snake Eye” inspection devices to FRCS director border, Shelini Kumar.
The tools will be instrumental in inspecting high-risk shipments and strengthening border control capabilities.
FRCS expressed its gratitude for ABF’s generous contribution and reaffirmed its commitment to mobilising resources and enhancing operational capacity.
By leveraging technology and intelligence-driven strategies, FRCS aims to detect and disrupt traffickers who attempt to exploit legitimate trade channels for smuggling drugs and other prohibited substances.
Customs and Fiji Navy personnel conduct inspections. Picture: REPUBLIC OF FIJI NAVY
