Secret trick to catch criminals

GOLD and silver have proved the secret weapon for tracking down suspects involved in large-scale organised crime.

Forensic teams at the Australian Federal Police are using the precious metals to uncover evidence not seen with the naked eye.

The powerful technique, known as Vacuum Metal Deposition, is responsible for the detection of dozens of fingerprints found on cash, mobile phones, firearms and other powerful weapons and linked to alleged criminals nabbed in Operation Ironside.

AFP forensic co-ordinator Dr Nathan Scudder said the technique involves thermally evaporating metals, primarily gold or silver and zinc inside a custom-built chamber.

That causes the metals to form thin films under the controlled high vacuum conditions, which develops any ‘invisible’ fingerprints present, so that they can be seen.

Dr Scudder said the evidence recovery technique using gold had delivered significant results for multiple AFP investigations as part of Operation Ironside.

“We used VMD to process more than 20 alleged illicit cash seizures, totalling thousands of dollars, as part of Operation Ironside,” the forensics expert said.

“This is an extremely powerful and sensitive process where precious metals such as gold can actually enhance the fingerprints of individuals that have touched the exhibits, such as banknotes,” he said.

“Suddenly evidence that was not visible before has been miraculously recovered, thanks to this capability.”

Operation Ironside officers devised and used the encrypted messaging platform AN0M to catch 100 people allegedly involved in organised crime.

Operation Ironside has led to the arrest of 224 offenders on 526 charges in every mainland Australian state.