Victoria Police and the Australian Border Force (ABF) have conducted highly visible operations to deter the illegal importation of drugs and goods via ocean freight into Victorian ports.
The Police said the multiagency operation saw officers from ABF with drug detection dogs alongside Water Police and divers from Search and Rescue, search a 170m shipping vessel when it docked at Maribyrnong last week.
“The vessel, which arrived in Melbourne from Panama, was searched along its hull by specialised police divers while ABF officers and drug detection dogs searched on board,” a police spokesperson said.
“In an Australian first, the Water Police also utilised the latest model state-of-the-art Remote Operated Vessel to support the search.”
Victoria Police said the vessel was equipped with dynamic remote-controlled camera systems, could search at depths of 300m and provided support for divers undertaking dangerous work in low visibility conditions.
Water Police Inspector Greg Barras said the multiagency approach was key to ensuring vessels coming into Victoria weren’t harbouring anything sinister.
“We’re taking a proactive approach to try and assess any vessels that pose a risk,” Inspector Barras said.
“The Port of Melbourne is the busiest in the Southern Hemisphere, so working together with ABF and maintaining that visible presence is vital especially in the current climate,” he said.
