Aussie Crackdown On International Crime Syndicates

MELBOURNE, May 25 (Bernama) -- International crime syndicates are targeting Australia because of its strong economy and high dollar, prompting a major crackdown on the nation's waterfronts. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus said reforms are needed to control the country's borders. "The reforms that we're talking about today make it much more difficult for cartels to look at Australia as a target," Negus was quoted by the Australian Associated Press as telling reporters in Sydney on Friday. Negus said Australia's strong economy and the high dollar made the country a sure bet for criminals. "Also, Australia seems to have a thirst for the types of drugs that are being pushed through the border and that is things like heroin, cocaine," he said. "These reforms will harden the borders ... and make sure that these particular overseas crime groups aren't looking at us to get their narcotics through to lots of money based on the misery of the young people in this country." One of the changes proposed is that anyone working on the waterfront can have their maritime security identification card revoked if there is compelling intelligence they are involved in corruption. At the moment, they need to be convicted before they can be refused the right to work on the wharf. "These are serious reforms. I think they'll be controversial," Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare told reporters. He said organised criminals had been targeting stevedores or getting jobs on the wharf, working inside private companies and trying to access the integrated cargo system. "This is tough. I'm not backing away from that ...," the minister said. -- BERNAMA