CANBERRA: The Border Force chief has admitted that free-trade deals could potentially increase the risk of illegal drug importations.
Australia is on the cusp of signing an agreement with India and the China free trade pact is expected to come into force once it receives parliamentary approval.
Force commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday that he was aware free trade architecture may expose Australia to the risk of “prohibited goods” coming in, but drug enforcement efforts had matured.
