As at 11 September 2026, the Commission has 5 matters before the court.
Operation Esk
Operation Esk is a joint investigation between the NACC, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
An ATO staff member has been charged with two counts of unlawful disclosure of information by a Commonwealth officer contrary to section 122.4 (1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 2 years’ imprisonment.
It is alleged the employee disclosed information obtained in their capacity as a public official to organised crime associates.
During the execution of search warrants, police identified alleged child abuse material on some devices, and the staff member was also charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth). The staff member was also charged with 15 counts of using a carriage service for child abuse material. The maximum penalty for both offences is 15 years’ imprisonment.
Operation Preston
Operation Preston was a joint investigation commenced by the former Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) and the Department of Home Affairs. The NACC took on responsibility for this and other ACLEI investigations on commencing operations on 1 July 2023, and the majority of this investigation was conducted following that date.
A former Home Affairs staff member has pleaded guilty to dishonesty offences relating to their former employment. The matter has now been referred for sentencing in the ACT Supreme Court on 10 September 2026.
Charges relating to two other staff members are currently before the courts, and we will not be providing further comment at this time.
Operation Mint
On 6 December 2022, a member of the AFP was arrested for corruption, theft and money laundering offences allegedly committed between January and April 2019. This followed a joint investigation commenced by the former Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Victoria Police and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. The NACC took responsibility for this and other ACLEI investigations on 1 July 2023.
The individual is alleged to have stolen cryptocurrency in the sum of 47 Bitcoin. At the time, the value of the Bitcoin was more than $100,000. The individual was suspended without pay.
In February 2024, following a contested committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, the individual was committed for trial in the Melbourne County Court on charges of contraventions of sections 142.2(1) and 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code and section 74 of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic).
In August 2024, the individual was charged on indictment, with contraventions of section 142.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth) and section 74 of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic).
This matter has been widely reported in the media.
As the matter is before the court, the NACC will not provide further comment at this time. Any enquiries should be directed to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Operation Freshwater
Operation Freshwater was a multi-agency investigation by the NACC, the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Home Affairs, NSW Police and other law enforcement partners into whether an Australian Border Force (ABF) employee and an alleged crime figure colluded to import illicit drugs into Australia. The NACC contributed staff to the Multi Agency Strike Force (MAST) according to operational needs.
The MAST arrested the ABF employee on 11 March 2025 and charged them with receiving a bribe as a Commonwealth official, abuse of public office, unauthorised disclosure of information by a Commonwealth officer, and aiding and abetting the importation of border-controlled drugs.
The ABF employee is currently suspended from their duties.
As the matter is before the court, the NACC will not provide further comment at this time. Any enquiries should be directed to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
New strike team targets double dealers working for organised crime | Australian Federal Police
Operation Rottnest
Operation Rottnest was a joint investigation by the NACC, the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Defence into allegations of irregularly awarded Defence contracts valued at almost $71 million to a Northern Territory business.
On 14 November 2025, multiple search warrants were executed on businesses and homes across Darwin, resulting in a Commonwealth employee, his spouse and directors of a local building company being charged with fraud and corruption offences.
On 20 November 2025, a fourth person was charged in connection to the alleged fraud and corruption offences.
As the matter is before the court, the NACC will not provide further comment at this time. Any enquiries should be directed to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Fourth person charged over multimillion dollar fraud | National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)