Source : Perth Now news
A veteran US Drug Enforcement Administration agent believes Australia should adopt American anti-Mafia racketeering laws to combat drug kingpins.
Paul Larsen, part of the DEA team that prosecuted infamous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, told the Behind the White Line podcast that Australian police would benefit from new laws to enable them to charge crime syndicate bosses who got others to do their dirty work.
READ WHAT HE HAD TO SAY IN THE WEST AUSTRALIAN’S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW.
He said that too often in Australia, crime-syndicate foot soldiers and low-level dealers were being busted for drug trafficking, while their bosses reaped the profits without facing as much risk.
Mr Larsen said international drug cartels were increasingly targeting Australia because of the high prices people were prepared to pay for drugs, and the low risk of being extradited to face charges here.
His comments come after the Behind the White Line podcast revealed the extraordinary tensions between the Australian Federal Police and the West Australian police over a DEA-instigated sting involving 2.4 tonnes of Mexican cartel cocaine.
Documents obtained by the podcast show some of the highest ranked AFP officers were involved in a sustained effort over several weeks to undermine the legality of Operation Beech — the WA police and DEA operation which prevented 2.4 tonnes of cocaine from arriving in Australia.
The AFP also complained to the head of the DEA and the then-US Ambassador, Caroline Kennedy, about the actions of the American agents working with the WA Police.
The two agents were sent home from Australia in March 2023 following the AFP complaints. In response, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch wrote to Ms Kennedy to praise the work of the agents.
