Concerns AFP drugs team may implicate Australia in US boat strikes
Unanswered questions about the Australian Federal Police's new anti-drugs taskforce in Colombia have sparked concerns it could aid the Trump administration's strikes against trafficking vessels.
Concerns have arisen regarding the Australian Federal Police (AFP) international taskforce operating in Colombia to curb drug trafficking. The AFP has declined to disclose its budget or expectations for the team, which involves collaboration with Colombian, US, Mexican, New Zealand, and Pacific law enforcement agencies, as well as INTERPOL.
This has prompted questions about whether Australian involvement in the initiative could potentially support the Trump administration's strikes on suspected trafficking vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean. Commissioner Krissy Barrett announced the taskforce's establishment in May, emphasizing the need for bold action against illicit drug shipments to Australia.
Since 2000, the AFP has been present in Colombia, contributing to the seizure of over 20 tonnes of cocaine. However, the IJIT's deployment in the country has raised concerns among some, including Greens senator David Shoebridge, who called for greater transparency about the operation's activities and the potential implications of sharing information that might lead to extrajudicial executions.
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