Media Release: Nine men charged with people smuggling

Release Date: Thursday, August 05 2010, 08:18 AM

Nine Indonesian men have been charged with people smuggling offences and will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

The men were transported from Darwin to Brisbane yesterday, where they were arrested and charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with one count each of facilitating the bringing of non-citizens into Australia (of five or more people), contrary to Section 232A of the Migration Act 1958.

In March 2010, three of the men arrived on a vessel that was detected by the Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Glenelg, operating under the control of Customs and Border Protection Command, north east of Ashmore Islands.

In March 2010 a further three men arrived on a vessel that was detected by the Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Armidale, operating under the control of Customs and Border Protection Command, north of East Island.

The remaining three men arrived on a vessel in March 2010 near Christmas Island.
The nine men bring the total number of people charged by the AFP with people smuggling offences since September 2008 to 164.

The maximum penalty for people smuggling offences is 20 years imprisonment and/or a $220,000 fine.

Media enquiries
AFP National Media Team
Phone: (02) 6131 6333