AFP, Queensland Police announce major crackdown on ‘black flights’ smuggling drugs, people through the Torres Strait

“Black flights” smuggling drugs and people into Australia through the Torres Strait are being targeted by a new federal and state police taskforce Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett and Assistant Commissioner Brett Schafferius from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) said the taskforce was being established to counter a growing threat from criminals sourcing methamphetamine and cocaine stockpiled in the Pacific. “We believe there are tonnes of illicit commodities that have been stockpiled in the Pacific over many years, giving onshore and offshore organised crime syndicates reliable and easy access to dangerous drugs on the doorstep of Australia,’’ Commissioner Barrett said on Friday. “The black flights landing at regional air strips and the porous border between Papua New Guinea and North Queensland require a more visible law enforcement presence.” The taskforce will also have “a laser-like focus” targeting “sexual servitude, forced labour and people smuggling” by organised criminals. As part of the crackdown, Commissioner Barrett said the taskforce would work closely with police in Papua New Guinea as well as First Nations leaders in the Torres Strait. “There is a growing concern among First Nations leaders in the Torres Strait and Bamaga that more of their youth are consuming illicit commodities because of the increase of trafficking through the region,” Commissioner Barrett said. In July 2020, five men in Australia and four men in PNG were charged after an alleged “black flight” crashed north of Port Moresby with 500kg of cocaine on-board. Commissioner Barrett said the team of seven will be based in Cairns, using intelligence from across state, federal and international agencies to target organised criminals seeking to exploit the “porous” border between PNG and North Queensland. “Organised criminals are a direct threat to Australia’s sovereignty and security and that means every resource, including all capabilities available to our counter terrorism teams, will be available to protect North Queensland,” he said. “We are coming for them.”