keelty the horse's aarse

AFP officer faces cocaine smuggling probe
Police are investigating an allegation that an Australian Federal Police (AFP) officer was involved in a cocaine smuggling operation through Sydney Airport.

Police allege baggage handlers were paid $300,000 to ensure a briefcase containing 10 kilograms of cocaine was not detected by Customs last October.

Earlier this month police raided 15 homes across Sydney and arrested over a dozen men on charges of conspiring to import cocaine into the country from South America.

The arrests came after a five-month investigation into a drug syndicate, which allegedly used baggage handlers at Sydney International Airport to remove briefcases containing cocaine from the baggage area before they passed through customs.

AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty told a Senate Estimates committee that an AFP officer has been referred to the AFP's professional standards unit.

He says the officer has not been suspended and is continuing normal duties.

At the Senate Estimates hearing, the Democrats' Lyn Allison asked Commissioner Keelty whether any of his officers are under investigation for alleged involvement in the case.

"There has been a matter that's been referred to our professional standards area as a result of an allegation. I wouldn't put it any stronger than that - that arose out of that investigation," Commissioner Keelty said.

Senator Allison asked if it was related to Sydney Airport.

"It did, but in no way pre-empted or caused the operation to be executed at the time. For reasons I cannot disclose publicly, there was another reason why the operation had to be brought to fruition on the day that it was," he said.

"We are very aware of that allegation.

"It was not a new revelation to us.

"This happened to be a matter about which we had prior knowledge and so we were proactively investigating in any event and I think to say any further probably will have a negative effect on that investigation as well."

Commissioner Keelty has also confirmed the AFP is investigating a total of 37 information leaks from within the federal public service.

He says 22 of those have been referred to the AFP this year.

The most "unauthorised disclosures" have occurred in the Office of National Assessments, the Department of Immigration and the Finance Department.

In earlier testimony, Mr Keelty said that his public comments about the Schapelle Corby case, in which he said the AFP had seen no evidence of baggage tampering at domestic airports in Australia, did not contradict a government letter sent to Ms Corby's defence team, which highlighted the investigation of international baggage handlers at Sydney Airport.

In other developments:
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner says his comments about the case of accused drug-runner Schapelle Corby did not contradict a letter from the Australian Government. (Full Story)
Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has warned that Australia could not change the sentence imposed on alleged drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, even once a prisoner exchange agreement is signed. (Full Story)