The Australian Border Force’s largest ship has been captured on film leaving Broome Port carrying four fishing boats, in stark visual evidence of its secretive and controversial program of purchasing old boats to give to illegal fishers and people smugglers that sail into Australian waters in unseaworthy craft.

The exclusive footage, captured by a 9News Perth drone, shows the Australian Border Force’s 110-metre Ocean Shield sailing out of the port on Wednesday evening, carrying the four fishing boats which had their identification numbers removed.

It is the first visual evidence of the ABF transporting privately purchased fishing boats to the north of the country, where illegal fishing rates have ballooned and people smugglers have managed to reach the Australian coast.

The boats are

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