Annual Report - COMPLETE - Australian Crime Commission

Results include:
• significant disruption of established criminal networks in Australia;
• 161 disseminations released to partner agencies; one of which directly resulted
in the arrest of three people by South Australian Police for attempted murder;
• the seizure of MDMA in Italy and cocaine in Peru;
• 47 drug seizures in total;
• the identification of significant links to other ACC operations under the ACC Money
Laundering and Tax Fraud, Firearms Trafficking, Vehicle Rebirthing and AOSD
Determinations; and
• significant collaboration with partner agencies through joint task force and joint
operational arrangements.
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Task Force Schumacher
Task Force Schumacher was established in December 2003 to facilitate investigations
in a number of jurisdictions relative to several criminal groups, who either act singularly
or in concert with others, to commit serious criminal offences impacting on the Australian
community. It was the first ACC Board authorised task force to be established under
the ACC Act. It is known that the criminal activities being perpetrated by these groups
is spread between four states with identified international connections and activity.
The Task Force arose because of the known national links and the strategic national
understanding of these groups gained under the NCA Freshnet Reference. This
included the basic enterprise composition, structure and activities which continue to be
an ongoing threat to the Australian community. Schumacher is a nationally coordinated
investigation into the larger narcotic enterprise using the full suite of investigative
tools available to the ACC, particularly its coercive powers. It has allowed for more
effective, focused and informed targeting and investigation to reduce the impact of
this ECN on the Australian community, particularly in relation to the importation of,
and trafficking in, illegal drugs.
A further aim of the Task Force is for any intelligence gathered identifying criminal
activities of other networks peripheral to the target networks to be processed and
disseminated to state, territory and/or Commonwealth agencies for action.
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Operation Senatus
In October 2003, eight firearms (six handguns, one UZI machine gun and one shot
gun), six silencers and a considerable amount of ammunition were seized in South
Australia. In November 2003, 12 search warrants were executed in Victoria, resulting
in seven arrests and a total of 21 charges. A further six offenders were interviewed
and were dealt with by way of summons on a further 18 charges.
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ACC ANNUAL REPORT 2003–04 I 61
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OUTPUT 1.3: INVESTIGATIONS INTO FEDERALLY RELEVANT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY