Kuala Lumpur to Paris. Two AFP posts separated by 10,000km and 50 years. But what they share is a critical role in the AFP's international work to protect Australia from afar and stop criminal activities at their source.
As of February 2025, the AFP has more than 200 members located in 34 countries around the world in cities such as Mexico City, Wellington and Port Moresby. The largest AFP post is Washington, United States, with nine members.
Officers stationed overseas work with local authorities to disrupt criminal activities which impact Australia and its people, such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering and terrorism.
This involves working on joint investigations, sharing intelligence, and providing and undertaking training.
AFP Commander Kate Ferry, who completed an international deployment in Kuala Lumpur, said no policing agency could tackle borderless crimes on their own.
"The AFP has a long and proud history of working with our partners around the world to protect Australia and our mutual interests," Commander Ferry said.
"Many of the members deployed overseas are without their families and spend long periods away from loved ones to undertake this vital work."
International posts are selected based on the AFP's strategic needs, which ultimately are centred on keeping Australia and its people safe.
The AFP's first international post was established in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1973 to combat illicit drugs coming from The Golden Triangle.
This decision proved successful and led to more seizures due to increased flows of intelligence on organised crime groups and narcotics.
In 1987, the AFP opened an outpost in Jakarta to bolster the fight against drug trafficking in the region, but this foothold was also critical in responding to the 2002 Bali bombings and supporting the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC).
The JCLEC, which is co-directed by the AFP and Indonesian National Police (INP), was initially set up to boost specialist policing capability to combat terrorism in the region.
It has since broadened its scope to provide training across South-East Asia, delivering more than 1800 counterterrorism, people smuggling and cyber awareness programs to more than 44,000 participants from 94 countries, including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and Thailand.
AFP international posts have also helped local authorities following disaster incidents.
In December 2004, the Bangkok post played a crucial role in assisting Thai authorities with the recovery effort following the Boxing Day tsunami, which resulted in the deaths of more than 227,000 people, including 26 Australians.
In early 2023, AFP officers in Port Vila, Vanuatu, assisted Vanuatu Police Force following tropical cyclones Kevin and Judy and helped coordinate police and response operations.
International posts can also play an integral role in bolstering safety and security at international events, especially those with Australian attendees. The Paris post, which opened in November 2023, provided significant logistical support to French Police and the Gendarmerie in the lead-up to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Commander Ferry, who spent almost three years overseas, said her deployment in Kuala Lumpur was a huge professional and personal privilege.
"Malaysia and Australia have an intertwined history and share similar interests and values. For the 75th anniversary of the ending of World War Two, I walked along the same path as did Australian soldiers during the Sandakan Death Marches," Commander Ferry said.
"In Malaysia, I worked on a variety of criminal matters which had a direct impact on Australia - this ranged from disrupting methamphetamine from entering the country, finding missing people and working on terrorism and online child exploitation matters.
"These experiences wouldn't be possible without the trust and cooperation formed over 50 years between Royal Malaysia Police and the AFP, and I'm proud to be part of the story."
