Baby bibs, dummies, sippy cups – and cocaine.
That’s the concerning combination of goods Australian Border Force (ABF) officers have intercepted in a number of thwarted attempts to smuggle drugs into Australia.
Transnational criminals are allegedly inserting sealed packages of ketamine and cocaine into packs of baby wipes before sending them to Australia via international mail in what the ABF has called a “disturbing” new trend.
ABF Acting Commander Troy Sokoloff said disguising deadly drugs in products used by the most vulnerable members of society demonstrated zero regard for the Australian community.
The most recent drug seizures include 641g of ketamine sent to a Brisbane address, 150g of cocaine sent to Jindalee, Queensland, and 600g of ketamine posted to St Kilda in Melbourne – all concealed inside baby wipes.
Sydney addresses have also been targeted, with two separate parcels of 500g of ketamine inside baby wipes posted to addresses in Glebe and Randwick.
“Criminals who attempt to flood Australia with border-controlled drugs are motivated solely by greed and personal gain,” Sokoloff said.
“They have no regard for the pain and suffering these harmful drugs inflict on people, their families, and their communities.”
Investigations into the seizures are ongoing, in consultation with domestic and international law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
