Hundreds of arrests and tonnes of drugs seized; now Operation Ironside has a new target

Hundreds of arrests and tonnes of drugs seized; now Operation Ironside has a new target


More than 1,300 people have been arrested in operation Ironside around the world since details of a "covert sting" targeting organised criminals were made public six months ago.
Hundreds of suspects have been arrested in a crackdown on international drug smuggling rings.

More than 1,300 people have been arrested in operation Ironside around the world since details of a “covert sting” targeting organised criminals were made public six months ago.

Ironside Key points:

  • Almost 1,000 suspects have been arrested and tonnes of drugs seized in a worldwide crackdown 
  • Police are still analysing millions of messages from the ANOM encrypted app 
  • Investigations are now turning to the industry insiders recruited by organised crime

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have been leading Operation Ironside –a global effort that involved investigators using an encrypted messaging app to catch criminals over a three-year period.

Since June, 993 people have been arrested oversees and another 311 people have been charged with more than 800 offences in Australia.

More than six tonnes of drugs, 139 weapons and $52 million in suspected dirty money have been seized in Australia as part of ongoing investigations.

A man wearing a life jacket and with his face blurred is led away by several police officers.
A suspect is arrested over an alleged attempt to import cocaine into Australia from the UK.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan said illicit drug use remained a serious problem.

“Outlaw motorcycle gangs, triads, cartels and Italian organised criminals are trafficking drugs into Australia at an industrial scale because of the significant profits being made,” he said.

“The AFP is deeply concerned about how Australia’s illicit drug use impacts national security, money laundering and the economy – we also hold grave fears about how illicit drug use is making our vulnerable communities, our suburbs and our roads less safe.

“We are seeing drug wars play out in the suburbs.”

Brightly coloured packages stacked up in a room.
Packages seized when the AFP intercepted an alleged cocaine importation from the UK.

The AFP has been sifting through around 19 million messages received through ANOM – the encrypted messaging app first planted into the hands of criminals in 2018.

One message revealed how a group planned to import three tonnes of cocaine in one shipment – about half of Australia’s annual consumption.

As a result of new information, Operation Ironside is entering a new phase today, with the AFP promising to go after 160 new targets in Australia.

NSW State Crime Commander, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, said so-called “trusted insiders” have  become a major focus, those who use their knowledge or connections in a workplace to help underworld figures.

“Police have been working hard to analyse and explore all those additional leads, specifically targeting trusted insiders and those who present the most significant threat to our communities,” he said.

A large pile of freight wrapped with plastic.
An airline freight worker from Sydney was charged with attempting to import 156 kg of pseudoephedrine into the country.

The ABC has been told professional dive teams are being used to retrieve drugs from cargo ships arriving into places like Port Botany in Sydney.

Some criminals are buying expensive equipment – such as small underwater scooters – to help them quickly remove drugs planted on the hulls of ships.

The AFP will also be looking at waste management services which are being used to collect drugs planted in garbage bins at ports across the country.

A large bag containing a white powder.
More than six tonnes of illicit drugs have been seized during Operation Ironside.

Information from ANOM has also revealed a list of lawyers favoured by underworld figures in the event they are charged with drug trafficking offences.

Intelligence has shown that criminal gangs have moved to new encrypted messaging services after hundreds of them were nabbed through ANOM.

“You will see AFP or our state law enforcement partners executing search warrants across Australia in coming months,” Assistant Commissioner Ryan said.

“It’s just a matter of time before we scoop up those who believed they had gotten away with their crimes.”

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