News / Australia cracks down on cocaine smuggling, with 100 companies in its sights

Operation Jardena, the Australian Border Force (ABF) anti-drugs programme, is now monitoring 1,000 individuals and 100 companies at docks and freight terminals, suspecting many may be involved in smuggling.

ABF has issued 165 infringement notices since Jardena began in 2021, but said wastewater testing showed around 80% of illegal drug imports were successful, “despite the thousands of tonnes per year we are stopping”.

Now, evidence suggests ABF is stepping up its operations, with 8.9 tonnes of cocaine seized last year and 4.5 ...