A significant risk to Australia’s biosecurity has been prevented by biosecurity officers securing approximately 38 tonnes of risk material—including boxes of turtle meat, frog meat, plant products, avian meat, pig meat, beef meat, and raw prawns.
On 15 February 2023, a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry biosecurity officer noted suspicious boxes of goods at a routine inspection in New South Wales. The observations led to the department executing a warrant at a Western Sydney warehouse on 17 February 2023 where biosecurity risk products were uncovered.
Following this, on 22 and 23 February 2023, the Australian Federal Police assisted the department by executing multiple warrants at various locations in New South Wales connected to the warehouse. A number of warrants have been executed in relation to individuals and businesses in relation to the investigation.
At the western Sydney premises biosecurity officers diligently examined approximately 250 tonnes of goods and determined that over 38 tonnes represented a biosecurity risk, including beef, chicken, duck, pig meat, geese, frog meat, raw prawns, plant products, and soil.
Goods were removed from the site in seven twenty-foot shipping containers and remain under Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry control.
Departmental Secretary, and Australia’s Director of Biosecurity, Andrew Metcalfe AO said, anyone who intentionally tries to circumvent our biosecurity laws can face significant potential penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and fines of up to $1,375,000 for an individual, or $6,875,000 for a company.
“The secured goods could have posed an unacceptable risk of introducing disease and pest for plants and animals alike,” Secretary Metcalfe said.
“In addition, diseases and pests from imported goods would severely impact our economy, and we will work hard to protect our agriculture industries and natural environment from these threatening diseases.
“The department takes its role in managing and enforcing Australia’s biosecurity laws extremely seriously and the work of our biosecurity officers throughout this operation has been outstanding."
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Department will continue to collaborate with the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, and all other relevant parties throughout the next phase of the investigation.
Fast Facts:
- A biosecurity officer identified several suspiciously marked boxes leaving a premises while doing a routine inspection. The department investigated and determined the location of the goods.
- On 17 February 2023 departmental investigators executed a warrant at a warehouse in New South Wales where investigators located large quantities of meat products, plant products, soil and a range of vegetable products suspected to pose a biosecurity risk. Following this, on 22 and 23 February 2023, the Australian Federal Police assisted the department by executing multiple warrants, at various locations in New South Wales.
- 250 tonnes of goods were assessed, resulting in approximately 38 tonnes of material being secured and removed from the premises.
- As this investigation is ongoing, no further comment can be provided about the specifics of this case.
