Our last line of defence

PETER CARRUTHERS sired by people there is a market there and we are noticing people are actually trying to bring it in undetected, which is a new challenge for the officers.”

Cairns ABF officers are not strangers to big drug seizures and in 2006 seized 5.6kg of cocaine concealed in a passenger’s luggage.

But the oddest find Ms Sinclair could remember was an ashtray made from an elephant’s foot and a four-legged stowaway.

“We have inadvertently had someone with a live gecko in their shoe. They didn’t realise it was there when boarding in Bali,” she said.

“He had thought there was something funny or maybe he getting some response from the altitude. He was referred to the baggage exam and he took off his shoe and there was a gecko.”

Co-ordinating air and marine patrols all throughout the Far North and the Torres Strait, Ms Sinclair said 86 officers based in Townsville, Bowen and Cairns were charged with intercepting illegal fishing vessels, marine hazards and people smugglers.

“When you look at a map of Australia it looks like there is opportunities there (to land contraband) and that’s why we do have aerial and marine surveillance,” she said.

FRESH out of Australian Border Force training Louise Officer has thrown herself into the challenge of keeping the nation’s borders intact.

A diverse career path, variety on the job and a connection with her community was what attracted Ms Officer to the job.

Operating in a huge area from Cardwell in the south to Coen in the west to 22km north of Australia in the Torres Strait, Ms Officer said her team relied heavily on local communities to provide the ABF with information.

“So we can strengthen those borders, especially up towards the Cape area,” she said.

Dividing her time between office work at her home port of Cairns and conducting operations in the field, Ms Officer said there was always the chance something unexpected could happen.

“The majority of my team are what we call use-of-force and carry personal protective equipment such as firearms. It is (needed) especially in those remote areas and there is not much back-up support for you,” she said.

In February the ABF will run a recruitment drive which can be applied for by visiting the website.

VARIETY: Recently graduated Australian Border Force recruit Louise Officer on duty at Cairns Airport International Terminal.

BIG HAUL: Australian Border Force officers Johsac Burns and Louise Officer dispose of seized tobacco products at the Cairns International Airport and (right) staff at the terminal.