Australia’s own version of the FBI has been created as police continue to crack down on major organised crime syndicates, their encrypted phones and the lavish lives led by their kingpins.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Operation Phobetor – named after the Greek God of nightmares – will see the official coming together of the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and Australian Crime Intelligence Commission to target major drug importers and other high-level criminals.
“The taskforce will target outlaw motorcycle gangs, triads, cartels, organised criminals and other syndicate members who pose the highest threat to NSW,” Home Affairs Minister, Karen Andrews, told the newspaper.
READ MORE: Operation Ironside: Greek Australians among those charged in NSW police bust
The latest operation aims to build off Operation Ironside, which led to the arrest of more than 300 people and the seizure of tens of millions of dollars.
READ MORE: Operation Ironside: Greek Australians among those arrested in SA.
“We’ll see two world class law enforcement agencies combine their resources to provide nightmares to the criminal element of this nation,” NSW Police Minister, David Elliott, said.
NSW Police sources said access to the ACIC’s ability to gather key intelligence on high-profile targets would be one of the biggest benefits of the partnership.
Source: The Daily Telegraph.
