Eight people including customs and quarantine officials have been arrested in Australia as the result of a two-year corruption investigation.
Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare says one customs officer, one quarantine officer and two members of the public were arrested this week.
The other four were arrested in August and October, AAP reports.
Customs and Border Protection has confirmed one of its officers, arrested on Monday, faces charges of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled precursors, weapons offences, receiving a bribe and abuse of public office.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI).
Mr Clare said the arrests and information about the operation had been subject to a suppression order in a Victorian court until now.
Fairfax Media reported on Thursday that a network of customs officers at Sydney Airport has allegedly been working with organised crime figures to import drugs.
Mr Clare said the government in January had expanded the scope of the ACLEI to include Customs.
Around that time, Customs identified what it believed was potential evidence of corruption at Sydney Airport and referred its suspicions to the commission.
Customs chief 'disappointed'
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service acting chief Michael Pezzullo said he was disappointed but not surprised by the corruption revelations.
"I'm not so naive as to think that criminal elements will not attempt to penetrate this service, its systems and its staff," he told reporters.
His agency had identified the cell and notified ACLEI about it in January 2011.
New laws recently passed mean customs and border patrol officers will be subject to drug, alcohol and integrity tests; the laws also give the agency new dismissal powers.
Mr Pezzullo said his organisation would review the role of workplace culture, management and leadership and take all necessary action to ensure the integrity of its workforce.
AFP Commissioner Tony Negus said couriers were allegedly sent overseas to collect drugs before returning through Customs with the help of people in "trusted positions".
The drugs were not planted in the luggage of other flight passengers.
The last courier was alleged to have smuggled pseudoephedrine into Australia from Thailand.
Apart from the arrests within Customs, one of the people arrested earlier this week was a 35-year-old woman from the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service. She has been charged with corruption offences.
