Category: Australian Federal Police

Challenge to Australian Federal Police Raid Over Chinese Pilot Training Fails

A former fighter pilot suspected of helping train Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) pilots has failed in a court challenge to the validity of an Australian Federal Police (AFP) raid on his home. The AFP executed a search warrant and seized items from the home of Keith Hartley, chief operating officer of the Test Flying…


Travellers Behaving Badly Arrested in Police Crackdown

Dozens of travellers behaving badly during the holiday season were arrested and charged for a variety of offences including assault and drug possession. The Australian Federal Police charged almost 50 passengers with 69 offences at major airports during the 2022/2023 Christmas and school holiday travel period as part of a nationwide crackdown on disruptive behaviour…


Almost 50 Air Travellers Arrested Over Bad Behaviour Over Australia’s Summer Holidays: AFP

Dozens of travellers behaving badly during the holiday season were arrested and charged for a variety of offences including assault and drug possession. The Australian Federal Police charged almost 50 passengers with 69 offences at major airports during the 2022/2023 Christmas and school holiday travel period as part of a nationwide crackdown on disruptive behaviour…


US, Australia Expose $100 Million International Cyber Scam

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has charged four Chinese nationals over their involvment in a sophisticated international scam operation following an investigation conducted with the help of the United States Secret Service (USSS). On Dec. 9, the AFP announced the result of a months-long probe into an organised crime syndicate employing a highly-sophisticated form of…


‘Dangerous’: Expert Pans Move to Donate Guns, Armoured Vehicles to Pro-Beijing Solomons Leader

The Australian Labor government’s decision to gift weapons and armoured vehicles to the Solomons government has been branded “ill-conceived and dangerous” by Pacific expert Cleo Paskal, saying the move is pushing the country one step closer towards civil war. On Nov. 2, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) delivered training and around $1.3 million (US$740,000) worth…


Russia-Based Group Identified as Hackers Behind Medibank Data Breach

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has identified a group of “loosely affiliated” cyber criminals based in Russia as those behind the cyber attack on health insurer Medibank. AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the agency has been able to find the identities of the hackers but didn’t name them. “These cyber criminals are operating like a…


Federal Police Launch Special Ops to Protect Victims of Largest Cyber Hack in Australian History

The Australian Federal Police will move to protect 10,000 customers whose valuable data was released online following the largest cybersecurity breach in the country’s history. “Operation Guardian” is part of a series of efforts by law enforcement, business entities, and the government to deal with the data breach of telecommunications giant Optus, which affected up to…


Italian Mafia Floods Australia With Dirty Money, Illicit Drugs: Australian Federal Police

Thousands of Italian mafia figures are washing billions of dollars a year through the Australian economy in secrecy while “pulling the strings” of other criminal clans. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Tuesday launched a probe into 51 Italian organised crime gangs operating in Australia, 14 of which are the Calabrian mafia—also called ‘Ndrangheta—one of…


Hundreds Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse Material in Global Operation

A two-year international operation led by New Zealand that identified over 90,000 online accounts that possessed or traded child sexual abuse material was finalised on March 2, arresting hundreds of offenders and rescuing children from harm. Across the duration of the operation, authorities arrested 450 offenders in the United Kingdom, 117 in Australia, 46 in…


Rise in Foreign Interference, Election Disinformation Among Top Concerns for Australian Police Chief

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is warning foreign interference and espionage is on the rise in the country’s ethnic communities and expressed concern that disinformation could impact Australia’s upcoming election. Reece Kershaw, AFP commissioner, outlined activities the law enforcement agency had undertaken over the past year in a hearing before the Senate Legal and Constitutional…