![\"Download](\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/static\/media\/right-red-arrow.92bca5db.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had some of our officers threatened to be \u2018knocked out\u2019. We\u2019ve had phones thrown at our officers, assaults on them, and verbal abuse. It just won\u2019t be tolerated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen a rise through all the airports coming into Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s suspected to be a combination of travellers loading up on booze before and during flights home and the ABF has declared it has zero tolerance for aggression against its staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are really taking drinking too far on the plane,\u201d Mr Waters said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re working closely with the airlines in relation to this issue, because their staff also have issues in relation to abusive behaviour, as well as the duty-free staff, and other staff within the airports.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police will prosecute those offenses, and some countries might not allow you to get a visa if you\u2019ve got such serious offences against your name.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shocking behaviour caught on camera<\/p>\n
ABF has provided shocking CCTV footage of several recent cases that can been seen exclusively on 7NEWS at 6pm Sunday.<\/p>\n
One involved a man returning from Kuala Lumpur heavily intoxicated in March when it was alleged he became disruptive and swore during a baggage search.<\/p>\n
The man can then be seen pulling down his pants on several occasions and exposing himself.<\/p>\n
He then thew his mobile phone, hitting an ABF officer.<\/p>\n
Charged with common assault, disorderly behaviour and two counts of indecent acts, the man pleaded guilty and was fined $1500.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/3ea761deba77bfdbccbf1256fb1a704141c0ea50.png\")
A heavily intoxicated man returning from Kuala Lumpur exposed himself to Australian Border Force officers. Credit: 7NEWSWhere most intoxicated passengers are travelling from<\/p>\n
According to the ABF, officers working at the airport are confronted with drunk and aggressive passengers at least a few times every day.<\/p>\n
Assistant Commissioner Waters said the offending passengers arrive from all kinds of destinations, sometimes over-indulging on long-haul flights.<\/p>\n
But often it is shorter flights when the travellers may also be intoxicated before boarding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not total, but our experience is it\u2019s mostly from Southeast Asian countries returning home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPotentially, it is the shorter flights, potentially the cheaper alcohol in those countries, that\u2019s where we see the trend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had some folk coming back from Bali who have been hammered and have been quite aggressive to our staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
In April a man arriving at Perth Airport from Thailand became aggressive after he was selected for a routine baggage search.<\/p>\n
When officers told the man they would be seizing a carton of undeclared cigarettes, he allegedly punch a hole in a wall.<\/p>\n
He was escorted from the airport by Federal Police and charged with criminal damage.<\/p>\n
![\"ABF](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/8ae0047d4d62006fd1bbdc7b27746f4930bbe884.png\")
ABF Assistant Commissioner Chris Waters (right) speaks with 7NEWS reporter James Camrody about a spike in violent incidents involving intoxicated travellers at Australian airports. Credit: 7NEWSIntoxication making air travel \u2018much, much worse\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a stressful time coming through airports, I absolutely accept that, but if you\u2019re intoxicated, it\u2019s just going to make it much, much worse,\u201d Assistant Commissioner Waters said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to fill in your incoming passenger card, that\u2019s your opportunity to declare things and if somebody is intoxicated, they might not understand what they\u2019re ticking or not fill it in correctly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat causes us then to engage with them, and that is when the aggressiveness sometimes occurs.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Travellers](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/b057c4cfd43a6f45fa6859fba2f9a18f8602c79b.png\")
Travellers might fill in their incoming passenger cards incorrectly if intoxicated. Credit: 7NEWSVisas cancelled <\/p>\n
In 2024, ABF officers processed over 41-million international air travellers.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Chris Waters said officers working at airports are on alert to intercept drug-traffickers, child abusers, and dangerous criminals.<\/p>\n
Important work, which he said does not need drunken travellers to distract his staff from.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does take valuable resources away from what our officers could be doing in other parts of the airport,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it was a licensed venue, those people would be turned away, but Australians returning home, we have to allow them in, which is, you know, fair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if people are on visas who misbehave, then there is an opportunity for us to cancel their visa and to return them home.\u201d<\/p>\n
In another recent case a Chinese national arrived in Australia and refused to answer questions about his travel and became violent. He also made repeated threats of physical harm against ABF officers, including threats of knife violence.<\/p>\n
That man\u2019s visa was cancelled, and he was sent home on the next available flight.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy advice is don\u2019t get hammered on the plane, don\u2019t be a muppet when you come back through the airport, treat our officers with respect,\u201d Mr Waters said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause they could be your sons, or daughters, or brothers, or sisters, and we\u2019re all just trying to do a good job and keeping Australia safe.\u201d<\/p>\n