BORDER SECURITY – AUSTRALIA’S FRONT LINE

7:30pm (PG)

Terrorism has changed air travel regulations but tonight on BORDER SECURITY - AUSTRALIA’S FRONT LINE a passenger breaks those rules, potentially threatening the lives of everyone on board his plane. Officers target a multi million dollar black market trade. And a big problem finds his way into Immigration.

In Quarantine, Officers have detected a number of suspect items in the bags of a passenger returning from Sudan. A search quickly reveals prohibited items he didn’t declare. As well as food, officers have discovered bags filled with extremely dangerous fireworks. Fireworks are classed as explosives. Carrying them on a place is a very serious offence that could result in a jail sentence. Officers tell the man that the huge number of fireworks he was carrying could have killed everyone on board. Will he be sent to jail?

In Sydney, Customs are working with Medicare Australia in a joint operation targeting the illegal flow of millions of dollars worth of Medicare subsidised drugs. They uncover five packages containing subsidised medication bound for Vietnam that have been sent from the same source. Whoever was trying to get them out of the country could be facing possible prosecution. The illegal export of these drugs is not limited to mail. At Sydney Airport the operation continues as officers start checking the luggage of departing passengers. Customs have spotted what looks like a large amount of prescription drugs in two bags. A desperate search begins to track down the owner. If they don’t have a legitimate reason for taking the expensive medication out of the country, they could be in serious trouble.

At Sydney Airport, Immigration Officers have flagged a male passenger arriving in Australia from New Zealand. The man has a substantial criminal history, so officers need to determine whether he might pose any treat to the community. The man seems calm and cooperative - but as far as Immigration is concerned – his history is something that can’t easily be ignored. Will he be allowed to stay or will he be forced to return home?

Narrated by GRANT BOWLER, BORDER SECURITY- AUSTRALIA’S FRONTLINE takes viewers behind the scenes of our Immigration, Customs and Quarantine departments.