Australian Border Force

Recently, Maritime Border Commander, Rear Admiral Brett Sonter hosted a Joint Interagency Task Force West (JIATF-W) delegation led by Director, Rear Admiral Bob Little, United States Coast Guard. The meeting focused on all-domain capabilities to deter, detect, and disrupt drug trafficking, aiming to reduce the flow of narcotics and dismantle criminal organizations in the region. Together, we're building a safer Indo-Pacific! 🇦🇺 🤝 🇺🇸

Did you meet our team at the Melbourne Career Expo today? If not, you still have time to come say hi and ask questions about a career with the Australian Border Force! 👋 You'll be able to find them at Booth 61 at the Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre this weekend, 10am to 4pm (27th and 28th July). Attendance is free however online registration is essential: https://lnkd.in/dkRGe3Uw

Are you in Melbourne and have questions about a career with the Australian Border Force? 🤔 You're in luck! Come say 'hi' to our friendly ABF officers at the Melbourne Career Expo this weekend! 👋 You'll be able to find them at Booth 61 at the Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre from 26th to 28th July (10am to 4pm), where they'll be keen to chat with you about the work that the ABF does and what career opportunities await you! Attendance is free however online registration is essential: https://lnkd.in/dkRGe3Uw

To celebrate #NAIDOCWeek, Australian Department of Home Affairs and Australian Border Force staff from across the country took part in an array of events and activities to listen, learn and engage with First Nations peoples, history and culture. Staff eagerly and thoughtfully took part in weaving and local Aboriginal language workshops, the 20th Annual NAIDOC Touch Football Carnival, cultural awareness workshops, morning teas and BBQs, trivia, and artwork creation workshops, just to name a few of the many activities available. Staff expressed appreciation for the opportunity to listen and learn from local Custodians, Aboriginal Cultural Advisors, First Nations staff, and other First Nations community members. The theme, ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’, is a reminder to all, of the deep connection to Country and unyielding spirit, empowering First Nations peoples and communities to stand tall and celebrate culture openly and unapologetically. We are proud to promote and celebrate NAIDOC Week as an organisation, and to be actively creating a culturally safe and inclusive workplace that celebrates the contributions of First Nations peoples and supports their cultural responsibilities in their communities. To learn more about NAIDOC Week, visit: www.naidoc.org.au

🚨 SCAM ALERT! 🚨 The Australian Border Force has received reports of scammers calling people from what appear to be an ABF Regional Office number. We’ve been told residents, mostly in and around Townsville, Queensland but also from around the country, have received calls and the regional office phone number was displayed as the caller ID. These scams use technology to make it appear that the calls originate from a legitimate phone number. This is known as ID phone spoofing or web-based ID spoofing. The caller impersonates an ABF officer and attempts to gather personal information. One example is the caller stated that the person receiving a call has parcel from overseas and it has been delivered to a previous address. If you get an unexpected call from someone who states they’re from the ABF and is asking your personal details and/or making threats to you, please hang up immediately. Australia Post is the carrier of international mail and has sole responsibility for delivery of postal articles. If you are expecting a parcel, you should contact Australia Post on 13 13 18. To find more information about scams in general or impersonation scams, or to find out ways to protect yourself, visit www.scamwatch.com.au You can also visit https://lnkd.in/gqhmfF-A for more information about cybersecurity and reporting cybercrime.

There are no excuses for not declaring importations of cigarettes 🚫 The Australian Border Force has recently cancelled the tourist visas of nine passengers on three separate flights from Tokyo for attempting to bring into Australia a combined total of more than 330,000 undeclared cigarettes. Not only have these passengers lost their haul of cigarettes and wasted an airfare, but by having their visas cancelled they now face an exclusion period of up to three years from re-entering Australia. This should serve as a warning for anyone considering a similar attempt at bringing into Australia a prohibited import such as cigarettes, while also attempting to evade paying the duty on these products. For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/gsDqQeWW

It’s not coming home 💼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 A UK national, 83, has been charged for allegedly concealing about 2kg of heroin inside his carry-on baggage in a failed attempt to smuggle the illicit drug into Melbourne Airport. The investigation began after ABF officers conducted an x-ray examination of two carry-on bags belonging to the man after his arrival from Qatar. ABF officers allegedly found a white substance concealed in the man’s black duffel bag and further testing of the substance returned a positive result for heroin. The matter was then referred to the Australian Federal Police and the man was arrested. Visit the ABF newsroom to learn more https://lnkd.in/gKSskzQs

Last month, our ABF officers attended the Darwin 4WD, Boating & Camping Expo in the sunny Northern Territory! ☀️ 👋 The event for camping, boating and adventuring enthusiasts alike was a great opportunity to chat with the community about the Border Watch program and reinforce the message that ‘If it doesn’t feel right, flag it.’ The Border Watch program is an initiative that educates, informs and asks members of the community and industry to report suspicious border-related behaviour and activities. One small observation could help stop a much larger border crime. If you have something to report, you can do so anonymously here: https://lnkd.in/gq6x2Ht

🚨 SCAM ALERT! 🚨 The Australian Border Force has received reports of scammers calling people from what appears to be an ABF Regional Office number from Weipa, Queensland. These scams use technology to make it appear that the calls originate from a legitimate phone number. This is known as ID phone spoofing or web-based ID spoofing. The caller impersonates an ABF officer and attempts to gather personal information. In one example, the caller stated that the person receiving the call has a parcel from overseas and it has been delivered to a previous address. If you receive an unexpected call from someone who states that they’re from the ABF and is asking your personal details and/or making threats to you, please hang up immediately. Australia Post is the carrier of international mail and has sole responsibility for delivery of postal articles. If you are expecting a parcel, you should contact Australia Post on 13 13 18. To find more information about scams in general or impersonation scams, or to find out ways to protect yourself, visit www.scamwatch.com.au You can also visit https://lnkd.in/gqhmfF-A for more information about cybersecurity and reporting cybercrime.

It's #NAIDOCWeek, a nationwide celebration honouring the history, culture and achievements of First Nations peoples. It’s a chance for us all to celebrate our Australian heritage, a chance to listen, learn and engage with amazing cultures and histories that span 65,000 years, in an effort to foster a society where contributions from First Nations people are valued and respected. This year's theme, ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’, celebrates First Nations people's cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and unyielding spirit. The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of the oldest living culture on earth – with fire as a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Australian Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force are proud to be actively creating a culturally safe and inclusive workplace that celebrates the contributions of First Nations peoples and supports their cultural responsibilities in their communities. To learn more about NAIDOC Week and how you can get involved, visit: www.naidoc.org.au