Tasmania Police does not comment on operational matters because of the potential for compromise, however there is no specific intelligence to suggest the Spirit of Tasmania ferry is being used for systematic firearm and drug trafficking.

“Tasmania Police works in partnership with other Australian jurisdictions in relation to developing strategies and operations to target drug and firearm crime,” said Assistant Commissioner, Donna Adams.

“As part of these strategies Tasmania Police uses trained dogs and handlers to assist in interrupting the supply of illicit drugs into Tasmania, and to detect explosives and firearms,” said Ms Adams.

“One of these teams has responsibility for the Spirit of Tasmania docking area, conducting both random and intelligence based searches targeting individuals.”

Two drug detection dogs and handlers are also available for statewide deployment.

In the 9 months to March 2013, these teams conducted 284 searches statewide, and detected drugs to the value of $228,000.