3 June 2008
Criminal Syndicate Dismantled
Delivered During Question Time to the Federal House of Representatives
Members will be pleased to know an Australian Federal Police investigation spanning a number of continents has culminated in the arrest of 15 people and the dismantling of a criminal syndicate involved in the global production and distribution of narcotics.
Nothing could more clearly demonstrate the importance of the AFP’s close relationship with its international law enforcement partners.
The operation required the AFP to work closely with Australian jurisdictions and officers from The Netherlands, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Thailand.
Last week 12 people were arrested in The Netherlands and one in Thailand.
And yesterday saw the arrest of two people in Sydney, including a senior investigator with the NSW Crime Commission, Mark Standen.
It is alleged these men were part of a conspiracy to import 600 kilograms of the precursor chemical pseudoephedrine, with the potential to produce 430 kilograms of methamphetamine, also known as ‘Ice’ with a wholesale value at $120 million.
The AFP has also estimated it would have cost $140 million in terms of social and welfare payments, medical treatment and policing.
Yesterday both Sydney men were charged with various offences relating to conspiring to supply and import commercial quantities of a prohibited drug, as well as perverting the course of justice.
The arrest of Mark Standen has, not surprisingly, generated a high media interest, but as the matter is before the courts the comments I am able to make are at present limited.
In May last year the investigator became a person of interest to the AFP and since July 2007 the AFP and New South Wales Crime Commission have been jointly investigating Standen’s alleged involvement in the syndicate.
Evidence of his alleged connections to this syndicate again came about because of intelligence received from the AFP’s international law enforcement partners as well as through its own investigations.
It will be alleged he used his position to provide advice to the syndicate on law enforcement methods and information on drug enforcement activities – allegations that are profoundly serious for someone in such a position.
Mr Speaker, I am entirely conscious that it is critical for the Australian public to have confidence in our law enforcement agencies.
The AFP has managed this highly sensitive investigation with great professionalism.
In fact Dutch authorities have publicly stated that their belief in the AFP’s capabilities was one of the main reasons for continuing with such a long and resource intensive investigation, that would otherwise have been untenable.
The investigation is ongoing but on behalf of the Australian Government I congratulate the AFP on its outstanding work on this case.