A former Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) officer has been sentenced to 14 years jail for his involvement in the importation of border controlled drug precursors.
The NSW District Court yesterday (20 November) imposed a non-parole period of eight years and six months.
Christopher Phillip Cranney was arrested in February 2013 following a joint ACBPS, Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity operation focused on the corruption of then ACBPS officers at Sydney International Airport.
He was charged by the AFP with offences including conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border controlled precursors and bribery of a Commonwealth Public Official.
Reforms to the integrity framework of the then ACBPS to harden the agency against the potential for corruption and criminal infiltration were put in place immediately and further strengthened throughout 2013.
Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg said the joint operation which led to the arrest and charging of Cranney and a number of his fellow officers was a watershed moment for the former ACBPS.
"It resulted in the rooting out of a corrupt cell of officers at Sydney Airport and marked the start of the introduction of a sweeping, modern integrity framework which has been further enhanced within the ABF and the broader Department of Immigration and Border Protection," Commissioner Quaedvlieg said.
"This sentencing result, in conjunction with court and disciplinary outcomes for other involved officers, represents a cleansing chapter in the former Customs and Border Protection Service's history.
"A zero tolerance approach to professional misconduct and corruption is supported by a range of integrity measures including drug and alcohol testing, strengthened employee suitability screening, integrity testing and mandatory reporting of serious misconduct or criminal activity.
"The vast majority of our officers continue to carry out their duties each and every day with diligence, pride and a commitment to protect the Australian community."
Media contact: Immigration and Border Protection (02) 6264 2244