Special agents deployed at airports around the world are preventing hundreds of dangerous individuals from entering the country.
Working for the Australian Border Force, Airline Liaison Officers are fighting to identify and stop terror suspects, criminals, extremists and illegal immigrants.
Between July 1 and August 30 this year alone, ALOs mainly stationed in Asian and Middle Eastern air hubs barred 153 dangerous passengers from boarding flights.
Working for the Australian Border Force (pictured), Airline Liaison Officers are fighting to identify and stop terror suspects, criminals, extremists and illegal immigrants
Those passengers were offloaded after being assessed as a border risk, or for being ‘genuinely documented but non-genuine travellers,’ The Daily Telegraph reported.
The huge jump in blocked passengers – only 136 people were offloaded in the 2016/17 financial year – is the result of better cooperation with foreign agencies.
Since 2013 ALOs have blocked 1043 passengers from boarding overseas flights to Australia.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Australian security agencies need to keep up with a changing world of security threats.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton (pictured) said Australian security agencies need to keep up with a changing world of security threats
Between July 1 and August 30 this year alone, ALOs mainly stationed in Asian and Middle Eastern air hubs barred 153 dangerous passengers from boarding flights (pictured are security checks at Sydney airport)
‘We need to be agile in how we deal with these threats and this includes having a multi-layered approach to national security,’ he said.
‘This offshore network of officers captures critical information for our intelligence and law enforcement agencies and gives us the ability to intercept individuals who might pose a threat before they board a flight.’
A internal report produced by the ABF stressed the need to monitor the movement of terror suspects and Australians who have travelled abroad to fight or train with extremists groups.
They focus on conflict zones and are stationed in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore, and at airports in cities including Seoul, Dubai and Doha.
ALOs are stationed in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore, and at airports in cities including Seoul, Dubai (pictured) and Doha