Strategic framework and decision-making The Board carries out its legislative functions under a formal strategic framework that links the ACC’s operating model and the Board’s statutory decision-making responsibilities. There are three decision- making phases that involve confirming targets, priorities and responses. This framework supports effective participation in processes and discussions to identify the ACC’s strategic direction and priorities, and to achieve the ACC’s outcome. National Criminal Intelligence Priorities The Board considers advice from the ACC, and draws on Board members’ experience as leaders in the law enforcement, national security and regulatory arenas, to endorse the National Criminal Intelligence Priorities (NCIPs). This is a legislated function of the Board. ACC priorities The Board receives various intelligence products and information, and considers a range of matters including strategic issues, significant areas of current ACC work and potential new areas of work. It takes all these matters into account to set priorities for the ACC; authorising investigations, intelligence operations and task forces. Coercive powers The Board confirms if investigations and operations are deemed ‘special’, which authorises the use of the ACC’s special coercive powers where traditional measures are not expected to be, or have not been, effective. The ACC’s coercive powers are similar to those of a Royal Commission and may only be exercised by an ACC Examiner for special operations or special investigations. The special powers allow the ACC to summon a person to give evidence under oath, require the production of documents, demand information from Commonwealth agencies, apply for a search warrant, and require the production of a passport.
Methylamphetamine market Through Project Baystone the ACC worked with multi-agency bodies including the Serious and Organised Crime Coordination Committee (SOCCC) to inform the national law enforcement response to the crystal methylamphetamine (ice) problem. The ACC assessed the nature and extent of the threat, alternative sources of data and appropriate operational and policy responses. It provided a classified strategic assessment to partners and also released a public report in March 2015. MDA manufacturing Through Project Alberta-Mede the ACC released a classified intelligence assessment identifying a method, previously unknown to Australian law enforcement, of manufacturing MDA using unregulated chemicals. Criminal groups generally develop new methods to produce precursor chemicals that are controlled substances. However, this method resulted in production of the drug without producing the intermediate controlled substances. This work resulted in several successful jurisdictional investigations into the purchase of chemicals for, and manufacture of, illicit drugs. The ACC also shared information about suspicious purchases, related to the MDA and steroids markets, with state and territory law enforcement for further action. The ACC discovered that non-controlled chemicals were being diverted and combined with imported raw materials for the domestic production of steroids in injectable form. MDMA market Through Project Baystone the ACC produced a classified assessment summarising the potential resurgence of MDMA identifying potential sources of threat and assessing the likely short to medium-term trajectory for the market. New generation performance and image enhancing drugs The ACC had previously identified the threat, potential harms and systemic vulnerability posed by the fact that a series of peptides and hormones were not scheduled as ‘prescription-only medicines’ in Australia. During the year the ACC worked with the National Integrity of Sport Unit in the Department of Health to advise the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and the substances are now scheduled under the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons. Illicit pharmaceuticals Under Project Andronicus the ACC has begun assessing the relevant components of the illicit pharmaceuticals market to identify substances of concern, points of vulnerability in the legitimate supply chain, gaps in existing knowledge, links between this market and other illicit drugs markets, the nature and extent of the organised crime footprint and appropriate operational and policy responses. Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs Outlaw motor cycle gangs (OMCGs) are highly visible crime entities, with a presence in all Australian states and territories. This special operation involves working in partnership with key stakeholders to reduce the threat posed by OMCGs.