1 9 6 7 – 1 9 6 8 (Australia)
The ABC’s answer to Homicide, Contrabandits, was produced by Eric Tayler, whose credits included Maigret and Z Cars.
Top man in the show was handsome Denis Quilley as Ted Hallam, head of the Special Branch, CB Division of the Department of Customs and Excise – known colloquially as the Contrabandits.
His team was Bob Piper (John Bonney), Jim Shurley (Ben Gabriel), Mardi (Janet Kingsbury) and Ross (Bob Haddow).
Hallam’s team investigated and combatted smuggling on the Sydney waterfront and in the city.
The Department head, mentioned but never seen, was called ‘The Collector’.
Based on the actual activities of the Customs Special Branch, the series had the approval of the Customs Department which made a Special Branch officer available to the ABC as a technical adviser and checked all episodes for accuracy and authenticity.
The other star of the series was Sydney Harbour, giving its best at all times.
Ted Hallam
Denis Quilley
Bob Piper
John Bonney
Jim Shurley
Ben Gabriel
Mardi
Janet Kingsbury
Ross
Bob Haddow
