Latest news with #illegalimport
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Yahoo
Online plant seller sentenced to jail after secret find in 'lingerie and shoe' package
An online nursery owner has been sentenced to jail after her haul of 57 exotic plants flown in from China was intercepted in Sydney. A picture supplied to Yahoo News shows dozens of cacti and succulents lined up on a table after they were seized by biosecurity officers. The Department of Agriculture (DAF) revealed packages containing the plants were illegally mislabelled as containing shoes and lingerie. There are strict biosecurity laws when it comes to importing goods into Australia, and accurate declarations about a package's contents must be made. On Tuesday, DAF revealed details of the investigation that led to Queensland woman Kirsten Mae Fearn pleading guilty to 14 biosecurity charges in Brisbane Magistrates Court in July. On multiple occasions, between 2021 and 2024, DAF officers intercepted plants addressed to Fearn, which they allege she intended to sell through her Rockford Plant House business. But the charges specifically related to packages that were sent from Hong Kong in November, 2023. An additional 50 succulents were later seized from the woman's home nursery. She was sentenced to six months in prison and was immediately released on a Recognizance Release Order, similar to a good behaviour bond. Illegal plants pose danger to Australia's environment DAF's deputy secretary of biosecurity, Justine Saunders, said attempts were made to 'educate' the woman, but her 'illegal activity' continued, so a decision was made to pursue a criminal prosecution in the courts. 'Our biosecurity laws are vital to the health of Australia's economy and environment,' she said. 'Those who risk Australia's environment by deliberately trying to bypass our strict requirements will be caught and face the consequences.' Incredible and 'rare' phenomenon on rugged Aussie beach vanishes within 24 hours Signs of million-year-old ancient humans found on Australia's doorstep Solution to Great Barrier Reef problem as new report released People illegally importing plants into Australia can face serious consequences because they can carry pests that threaten the environment and agricultural industries. Penalties can be up to 10 years in jail and a $660,000 fine. Anyone with information about breaches to biosecurity is urged to contact 1800 798 636. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
News.com.au
18-07-2025
- News.com.au
Brisbane man charged after police foil alleged gun import
Hundreds of firearm parts have been seized at Brisbane airport in what police allege was a plan to illegally assemble and sell the weapons. A 34-year-old Queensland man has been charged with importing the parts into Australia. The man was stopped at Brisbane International Airport on June 26 after arriving on a flight from the United States. During an incoming passenger inspection, ABF officers allegedly discovered information in his possession relating to the import, including consignment details for nine packages later found to contain firearm parts. The ABF referred the matter to the AFP, which launched an investigation. Authorities allege the man attempted to import individual weapon parts into Australia using false names and package descriptions to deliver them to addresses in Queensland and Victoria. All nine packages were intercepted before delivery and sent for forensic analysis. Police will allege the man intended to assemble the firearms and sell them on the black market for $20,000 each. AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the operation had successfully disrupted a significant firearms trafficking attempt. 'The AFP and ABF work closely every day at airports around the country to detect threats such as firearms trafficking that could harm the Australian community,' he said. 'Anyone involved in the trafficking of illegal weapons into Australia with the intention of providing them into the hands of individuals or organised crime groups should be warned – the AFP and our partners are ready and waiting to stop you in your tracks. 'Seizing hundreds of firearm parts before they could be sold on the black market has made all Australians safer. 'Even when criminals use weapons bought on the black market to target other criminals in violent confrontations, innocent bystanders' risk being hurt or killed. 'Our priority is keeping Australians safe, which is why we will continue to be relentless in our commitment to working with our partners to target, identify and disrupt endeavours that present a real risk of becoming a weapons supply line to organised crime. 'We will not tolerate the import and use of illicit weapons in Australia.' The man has been charged with nine counts of attempting to traffic in firearm parts, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment. The man appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court in where he was granted conditional bail.
ABC News
18-07-2025
- ABC News
Queensland man charged with illegally importing hundreds of gun parts from US
A Queensland man has been charged with illegally importing hundreds of gun parts from the US. Police allege a 34-year-old Brisbane man sent individual firearm parts to multiple addresses in Queensland and Victoria over the past month, intending to assemble the weapons and sell them for $20,000 each. Australian Border Force (ABF) officials stopped the man at Brisbane International Airport on June 26. Its alleged the man - who arrived on a flight from the US - was travelling with consignment details for nine packages which were later found to contain firearm parts. The matter was referred to the AFP for investigation. The man allegedly sent the individual parts under false descriptions to false names at mulitple addresses before being intercepted by the ABF. AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the packages contained hundreds of individual weapon parts. "If they were assembled, could have created more than 30 Glock style handguns," Detective Superintendent Telfer said. He was charged with nine counts of attempting to import firearm parts. The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years imprisonment.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Yahoo
Woman jailed after disturbing find inside 62,000kg of Thai food sent to Australia
An attempt to illegally import 62,000kg of exotic foods into Australia has landed a woman in jail. Inside mislabelled polystyrene boxes, border agents found a variety of packages, some containing ingredients that seldom make local menu listings like frozen frogs. Other boxes included prawns, fresh produce infested with insects, and pork. All were sent from Thailand and destined for Sydney's black market, but her plan came unstuck after authorities were tipped off by a confidential source. Had the boxes not been intercepted, the products inside could have threatened both wildlife and the agriculture industry. Looking generally at the threat posed by undeclared foreign goods, frogs can carry diseases like chytridiomycosis, which has already caused the decline or extinction of over 500 amphibian species around the world. Prawns can be infected with a highly contagious virus called white spot disease, and pork can be contaminated by an array of illnesses not seen in Australia, like African swine fever. When it comes to invasive insects, once they breach our borders, state and federal authorities seem unable to stop their spread. The varroa mite has had a severe impact on honey production, fire ants are marching down Australia's east coast, while over in Perth the shot-hole borer has killed thousands of trees and crippled the local plant trade. There are stringent laws designed to stop pests and diseases from entering Australia, and anyone who breaches them faces fines of up $1.6 million and 10 years in jail. On Thursday, Australia's Department of Agriculture (DAFF) revealed a woman connected to the 62,000kg importation plan had been sentenced to two years' jail and ordered to serve 150 hours of community service. The sentence was handed down by a judge on June 11, after she was convicted of nine counts against the Biosecurity Act. 😳 Australia's sky could change forever after winter ends 🌏 'Shocking' jellyfish find could change the way Aussies visit the beach 🔍 Rare find inside ancient cave after tourists banned for years DAFF's deputy secretary of biosecurity Justine Saunders said because the haul was so large, it presented 'numerous biosecurity risks to Australia'. 'Australia is free from many of the pests, weeds and diseases that impact agricultural productivity and the environment in other parts of the world. Our biosecurity officers work tirelessly to keep these pests out,' she said. 'Illegal activity can undermine Australia's animal, plant and human health status and our excellent global reputation.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
