Media Release: Man charged for involvement in people smuggling syndicate
Release Date: Friday, September 21 2012, 07:39 AM
A 22-year-old man will appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court today (21 September 2012) charged with people smuggling offences.
The arrest follows a 12 month investigation by the AFP’s People Smuggling Strike Team (PSST) into the man’s activities prior to his arrival in Australia in June 2011.
The PPST conducted three search warrants yesterday in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne in relation to this ongoing investigation.
The AFP has charged the man with the following:
- Three counts of organising the proposed entry into Australia of another person, of which that person had no lawful right to come into Australia (Section 233A of the Migration Act 1958).
The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years imprisonment and/or a $110,000 fine.
Enquiries into this matter remain ongoing. The AFP will be making no further comment while this investigation remains ongoing.
This arrest brings the total number of alleged people smuggling organisers charged by the AFP in Australia to 16, and is another example of the AFP’s commitment to investigating, dismantling and prosecuting organised people smuggling ventures operating within Australia and offshore.
The AFP is a member of the Australian Government’s People Smuggling Taskforce to support a whole-of-government approach to combating people smuggling.
The PSST includes members from the the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), who assisted the AFP throughout the investigation.
Anyone who has information they believe may be relevant to people smuggling activities is urged to contact the AFP via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, the AFP hotline on 1800 813 784 or through the AFP website at www.afp.gov.au
All information provided will be fully assessed, with a view to it potentially forming part of future investigations.
Media enquiries:
AFP National Media (02) 6131 6333