The Spy Unit That Wasn't: Border Force's Ill Fated Adventure in Espionage The collapse of the Australian Border Force's (ABF) secret spy unit is a story of hubris, incompetence, and ultimate failure.
Behind the scenes, the ABF secretly built an elite intelligence agency to counter organised crime gangs breaching Australia's borders. However, like a house of cards, it all came crashing down in just three years.
The ABF's foray into espionage was born out of desperation. With its massive remit and sweeping powers, the agency found itself woefully under equipped to deal with sophisticated threats facing the country.