Editors --- "Making our mark" [1999] AUFPPlatypus 21; (1999) 64 Platypus: Journal of the Australian Federal Police, Article 3

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Making our mark

Some significant operations of the past 20 years

The AFP has achieved many successes in its history, both individually and as part of joint agency operations. Most of those highlighted in Deputy Commissioner Adrien Whiddett's article are outlined here.

(1982): Background checks and financial analysis of Southern Cross group of companies relating to breaches of the Foreign Exchange Regualtions and the Income Tax Assessment Act.

Toggle (1982): Seized 100kg heroin over three years. Most of the heroin was brought into Australia through Sydney.

Lavender: (1984) Organised crime investigation culminating in the 1985 arrest of more than 20 offenders and the dismantling of a major criminal enterprise involved in drug trafficking.

Probe (1984): aimed to establish a presence in remote barrier zones in the Northern Territory.

Postscript (1985): Conspiracy to import 3kg heroin.

Neon (1986): Focused on a Hong Kong-born restaurateur — conspiracy to import heroin.

Coat (1987): Drug ring which distributed cocaine, hashish and cannabis. 17 people charged.

Camber (1988 – 1991): DAS employee, DAS state manager and former DAS employee fraudulently used government credit cards to the value of $1.2 million.

Lilac (1988): Disappearance of yacht Patenela, along with its crew of four. The boat was not recovered, however the investigation led the coroner to conclude that the Patanela sank and its crew died.

The Patenela went missing in 1988.

Peat (1989): Long-running investigation into the murder of Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester. David Harold Eastman convicted in November 1995.

Nepean (1989 – 1994): Tax and DSS fraud by various associated clothing businesses in Brisbane, Sydney and the Gold Coast. Tax fraud estimated at $1 million per financial year from 1989 to 1993. Late 1994, 30 search warrants executed in Qld and NSW.

Spiral (1989): Concerned the importation of counterfeit NSW birth certificates and drivers licences into Australia from the Philippines.

Tapir (1990): Conspiracy around Australia Post break-ins; value of $280,000; south-east Queensland, northern NSW and Melbourne — 16 people involved.

Teacup (1990): Four charged over a conspiracy to import 40kg of heroin into Melbourne. The operation also involved a pathology scam, an attack on a medical practitioner and the attempted illegal entry into Australia of overseas nationals.

Bigboy (1991): Northern Region — Joint AFP, state police and CJC operation involving an attempted drug importation conspiracy and an attempted extortion.

Bud (1991 – 1997):Fossils stolen from a SA national park and sent overseas — 14 search warrants executed in Australia, various fossils seized.

Spanner (Began 1991): Allegations of major fraud involving a finance corporation. Seven charges of defraud the Commonwealth $91.8 million laid in 1995.

Geronimo (1991): Group of companies operated by one family involved in large-scale sales tax conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth of $130 million.

Rustic (1991): Six arrests over seizure of 12.2kg heroin, 1kg cannabis and $182,000 in cash in NSW.

Newton (1991): Importation of 32kg of cannabis resin. All four defendents pleaded guilty.

Windmill (1991): Joint AFP/VICPOL investigation into hashish imported through waterfronts.

Civic (1992): Australian Passports Office referred allegations that birth certificates were being sold to immigrants.

Isobar (1992): Use of forged ACS stamps to evade paying Customs import duty. $4,250,000 defrauded from Commonwealth, four charged and sentenced.

Rock: (1992): Dismantled a large drug importing gang — 330kg cannabis resin seized; six convictions.

Silkworm (1992): International syndicate planning importation of 1.3 tonnes cannabis from Thailand. Almost 100 AFP, ACS and other law enforcement agents involved. May 1994: eight people sentenced.

Bangle (Began 1993): Man charged with obtaining credit while not disclosing he was an undischarged bankrupt. Further investigation led to offences of $3 million.

Bantu (1993): 25 fraudulent DSS claims totalling $634,000. March 1994 — a DSS employee and her husband charged with organised fraud. Seven-years-and-five-months jail term.

Bastion (1993): Involved heroin distribution activities in the ACT.

Carousel (1993): Queensland prisoners obtained DSS benefits. Queensland Police, DSS and Queensland Department of Corrective Services information indicated a substantial number of prisoners received benefits. 30 arrests.

Leo (1993): Multi-million dollar fraud of counterfeit pharmaceutical goods. Joint UK Police, HK Police and HK ICAC investigation. Several shipments of pharmaceuticals imported and seized. Company director charged with 260 offences.

Puritan (1994): Money laundering scheme and income tax evasion in the Victorian clothing industry — $16.05 million, 14 people convicted. More charges to be heard.

Calgary (1994): Thai fishing vessel located off Bathurst Island, NT. Bag floating next to vessel was found to contain 123.4kg heroin. Eight crew members charged.

Caribou (1994): Two year AFP investigation culminated in the seizure of five tonnes of cannabis resin from a vessel at Hervey Bay, Qld. 18 people arrested in several states.

Extra (1994): Arrest near Mackay, Qld of two brothers charged with possession of 1.4 tonnes compressed cannabis.

Norse/Oden (1994): 27.3kg heroin seized from a man in Sydney. Five days later, 9.5kg heroin seized from a man in Perth. Two days later, 10.9kg heroin seized from two men in Adelaide. All seizures were part of 47.7kg importation into WA. Nine arrests.

Wafer (1994): Me lbourne-based organised crime group allegedly produced around $US5 million of counterfeit $US100 banknotes and distributed them throughout Australia's eastern states. 13 people charged with Crime Currency Act offences.

Wand (1994): Overseas law enforcement information led to the seizure of 270kg cocaine from premises at Artarmon and Manly NSW.

Flare (1995): Drug distribution activities in northern ACT suburbs

Avoca (1995): Car parts consignment arrived at a transport depot in Botany, NSW, and were found to contain 15kg heroin. Five arrests.

Brawlins (1995): Four crates of picture frames arrived at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport from Thailand — 55.8kg heroin found concealed in their lining; five arrests.

Brogue (1995): Singapore vessel arrived in Darwin and was intercepted by Customs. Principal's vehicle found to contain 20kg heroin. One crew-member and six men in Sydney were arrested.

Kaftan (1995): Resulted from information that a man was a major amphetamine distributor in the ACT.

Pentium (1995): Sale of a device enabling international telephone calls to be made free of Telecom charges, from a public phone box. 43 people intercepted at 16 Melbourne locations.

Anthem (1996): 23.7kg heroin found in wall hangings on their arrival at Melbourne Airport. Three men arrested.

Molotov/Calculus (1996): 8.4 tonnes cannabis resin seized in Queensland. 15 arrests; 5000 marijuana plants also seized at premises of principal offender.

Nitric (1996): Seizure of 5 tonnes cannabis in shipping container in Sydney.

Sudan (1996): Man advertising for restaurant investors in the Philippines; sex with children offered to attract interest. The man was arrested at Melbourne Airport on his way to the Philippines.

Redgum (1996): Drug-related crime in ACT region.

Abilene (1997): Long running investigation into 624kg compressed cannabis found in a shipping container from South Africa to Sydney.

Aquatic (1997): Investigation into the murder of Ulrike Conway in Canberra.

Chowder (1997): Seizure of 142x$20 counterfeit polymer bank notes passed in Sydney and Melbourne. Further investigations led to larger counterfeit note seizures and two men charged with currency, firearms, stolen vehicle and drug offences.

Cyclops (1997): 10 tonnes cannabis resin seized from a vessel near Port Stephens.

Pita (1997): Two US citizens arrived in Sydney from Argentina. 20kg cocaine discovered in each person's suitcase.

Platypus (1997): 23.4kg heroin found in crates of furniture from Malaysia to Sydney.

Ritz (1997): 483kg cannabis resin found in two vehicles planning to travel from Darwin to Sydney. Two men arrested.

Tamarind (1997):78kg heroin found in pineapple tins in Sydney.

Varnish (1997): 20 tins of water chestnuts from China arrived in Melbourne, each containing two blocks of suspected heroin with an estimated weight of 32kg.

Cablet (1998): Investigation into the murder of Saudi Arabian First Secretary Abdullah Al Ghamdi in Canberra.

Caspian (1998): ACT Investigation into explosive devices sent through the post.

Stockman (1998): Vessel from China smuggled 94kg heroin concealed in three industrial ovens in cargo.

Chandelier (1998): Consignment of water pumps arrived in Sydney from France. Found to contain 17.2kg ecstasy.

Gentle (1998): A Customs-AFP joint investigation which tracked the movements of an international cocaine trafficking syndicate, resulting in the seizure of almost 225kg of cocaine from a yacht at Coffs Harbour.

Linnet (1998): Multi-agency operation resulting in record seizure of 390kg heroin near Port Macquarie from a vessel which had travelled from South East Asia — 18 men arrested.

Toboggan (1998): Information from Islamabad led to seizure of 23kg heroin allegedly imported from Pakistan to Sydney.

Bronte (1999): Arrival of a suspect illegal entry vessel at Scotts Head, NSW. Three men charged

Bluebird/Avian (1999): Surveillance in the Sydney area led to the arrest of three Hong Kong nationals and the seizure of 79kg heroin.

Magnetic (1999): 14.4kg heroin found in four wooden wall hangings arriving at Brisbane Airport from Bangkok.

Novella (1999): Two men arriving in Perth from London found to be carrying 6.1kg ecstasy tablets.