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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Christopher Knaus

Criminals tipped off after law enforcement staff shared photo of intercepted shipping container on WhatsApp

WhatsApp icon on phone
A photo of an intercepted shipping container shared widely on WhatsApp in 2020 by Australian law enforcement staff tipped off the criminals and compromised the investigation, it has been revealed. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

A criminal syndicate was tipped off to a covert operation after federal law enforcement staff shared photos of an intercepted shipping container with more than 400 public servants across multiple agencies.

The blunder compromised the investigation, prompted a multi-agency corruption investigation and led to written warnings to the heads of the Department of Home Affairs, the federal police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

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