Will this revive the Corby debate?

[james4321]

Customs staff linked to airport drug ring

 

[medhead]

Yes but it shouldn't since these guys were importing.

 

[james4321]

Right. But it just, once again, raises serious concerns about security at our international airports. I would imagine that the Corby family will be all over this, and perhaps with some justification - after all it adds weight to their long held theories about how the weed got in the bag and through Customs without detection.

 

[medhead]

Sorry my mistake, yes, it is just my opinion. Anyway, it is a question of direction. Customs are primarily looking to stop things entering the country. That somewhat kills the Corby position, along with the suggestions of links to drug producers for her family members.

 

[burmans]

Yes but it shouldn't since these guys were importing.

Not sure of the logic here, this has identified opportunities existing to get around the systems in place, are you really confident that similar techniques couldn't be used to get around the exporting controls. Corrupt officials are the weak link in many systems and this sould easily be common across importing/exporting.

As for killing the Corby position surely the statement you have made that Customs are primarily looking to stop things entering the country implies that it should be easier to export which to my mind strenthens rather than decreases the Corby argument. Not that I personally believe it is true in their case but what this case makes clear is that internal parties have ample opportunities to circumvent controls in place.

 

[medhead]

The only opportunity to get around the system is if you are working with the customs people as in this case. It hasn't identified a general opportunity to bypass the system.

The Corby argument is that someone must of planted it for it to not be detected when leaving the country. That argument is diminished if they aren't looking for something something leaving the country in the first place. Lack of detection is equally likely to be because they're not looking in such situation. (IMO) it weakens the argument of conspiracy.

And note the mules were working with certain customs officers in this case. If this is applicable to Corby, that would suggest her or someone in her party was a mule. Then there is there is the question about why set up to get out of the country to go to a country, with the death penalty, where up haven't set up a dodge to get in.

 

[drron]

Not sure of the logic here, this has identified opportunities existing to get around the systems in place, are you really confident that similar techniques couldn't be used to get around the exporting controls. Corrupt officials are the weak link in many systems and this sould easily be common across importing/exporting.

As for killing the Corby position surely the statement you have made that Customs are primarily looking to stop things entering the country implies that it should be easier to export which to my mind strenthens rather than decreases the Corby argument. Not that I personally believe it is true in their case but what this case makes clear is that internal parties have ample opportunities to circumvent controls in place.

Only one problem with your logic.Customs officers do not screen you leaving australia.At BNE the screening is done by Brisbane airport corporation.
The other illogical part of the Corby defence is that this was a domestic transfer of drugs that got missed.BNE domestic is physically removed from the international terminal so this just couldn't happen.
It is reported that her half brother was carrying the boogie board bag before the arrest.He was subsequently found guilty of the armed invasion of a drug runner's house.

 

[james4321]

This particular story is about importation requiring collusion with Customs officers, but other reports appearing make reference to baggage handlers being involved. So it could be possible that the whole chain of corrupt workers at the airport have been moving drugs not only into Australia but distributing them around Australia - which is what the Corby defence was primarily about.

 

[markis10]

So it could be possible that the whole chain of corrupt workers at the airport have been moving drugs not only into Australia but distributing them around Australia - which is what the Corby defence was primarily about.

Fact of the matter is its nothing new, there have been cases heard in court constantly since the incident of a similar ilk, hardly new fuel to the fire.

Only one problem with your logic.Customs officers do not screen you leaving australia.At BNE the screening is done by Brisbane airport corporation.

Customs do screen outwards shipments be it parcels or accompanied baggage at Brisbane and all other ports. I was involved with a seizure as a result of a scan on a trademarks case. They are more often than not looking for PBS issues.

 

[serfty]

...
The other illogical part of the Corby defence is that this was a domestic transfer of drugs that got missed.BNE domestic is physically removed from the international terminal so this just couldn't happen.
It is reported that her half brother was carrying the boogie board bag before the arrest.He was subsequently found guilty of the armed invasion of a drug runner's house.

Aside from the very real and quite probably pertinent information about the character of the brother, I state the part about domestic/international terminals is irrelevant as Corby was on a 6am Qantas domestic flight from Brisbane connecting with her international flight at Sydney.

 

[burmans]

Aside from the very real and quite probably pertinent information about the character of the brother, I state the part about domestic/international terminals is irrelevant as Corby was on a 6am Qantas domestic flight from Brisbane connecting with her international flight at Sydney.

Yes, I'm not really trying to make an argument for the Corbies, mote that once again we have had demonstration of gaps galore at airports. Possibly more a link to the other conversation about scanners, in my mind that is solving yesterdays problem. Seems to me this has exposed there much easier ways than going through the scanners if you have something illicit you want to get into an airport!

 

[Mal]

Agree with the posts that basically say "this doesn't matter".

The Corby nutters will be all over this and proclaiming from the hills how innocent she is. But, this case has nothing to do with her case.

 

[bigjobs]

Her lawyer at the time is on record saying the story was made up, so I'd be saying no, this will have no bearing on her

 

[mella2007]

I don't think this will have any effect on her case either, and considering how many times she has had her sentence cut and is awaiting parole (which is on hold due to their government at the moment anyway)...they would be silly at this point in time to try and even bring her name into it

 

[Sprucegoose]

Lovely people the Corbys........

 

[whatmeworry]

The rumours and allegations I heard from a number of law enforcement agencies her family were involved in illicit activities. I don't know if any these rumours were true...

http://www.rawfish.com.au/images/free-schapelle-corby-smoking-joint-marijuana1.jpg



However these pictures are worth a thousand words.

 

[Alanslegal]

However these pictures are worth a thousand words.

Great photo. I think I can see the backpack that carried the drugs in the background too

 

[james4321]

However these pictures are worth a thousand words.

But to be fair, there is a huge difference between using weed and smuggling it !!! So I dont think you should infer that one automatically means the other - if that was the case there would be millions (including no doubt many many AFF posters) who would be in jail.

For me the overiding concern in this Sydney Customs story is the reminder that our airports are not secure, that our luggage may not be secure, and that by trivialising that fact we are exposing ourselves to consequences that could come back to bite us.

 

[Alanslegal]

For me the overiding concern in this Sydney Customs story is the reminder that our airports are not secure, that our luggage may not be secure, and that by trivialising that fact we are exposing ourselves to consequences that could come back to bite us.

I know you support the Corby's that's fine, you're entitled to that view. However when you think about customs/security/airports more objectively, tens if not hundreds of thousands of people pass through them daily and nothing ever bad happens. In fact, if these alleged activities occurred that frequently I am sure more people would have been stung. As far as I know, only Corby was caught, and in my opinion, for her to claim it was someone else is purely bullocks. The Indonesian courts (including various appellate courts) also agreed with this view.

There is no guarantees in life, they will always carry some form of risk. If people are that concerned that in the rarest of events that someone/s will randomly choose their bag to deposit drugs in them, then don't travel. Customs, security and airport staff do the best than can, what for they are given. It is one of the safest means of travel, airports are one of the most regulated and scrutinised modes of transportation systems out there. ID checks, baggage checks, body checks, x-rays, scans, pat-downs and who knows what else they do in those private rooms with disposable gloves.

 

[james4321]

However when you think about customs/security/airports more objectively, tens if not hundreds of thousands of people pass through them daily and nothing ever bad happens. In fact, if these alleged activities occurred that frequently I am sure more people would have been stung.

By the same token hundreds if not thousands of people ride in cars every day too, and only a few die (ie nothing bad happens to most of them). But we worry about road safety. I'm not so much about supporting the Corbys - more about being aware that the illusion that our airports are secure is nonsense. But maybe thats just me.