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A woman who allegedly lured Papua New Guinea (PNG) nationals to Australia with fake scholarships before exploiting them has been charged with debt bondage and other human trafficking offences.

The AFP charged the woman – a dual Australian and Nigerian citizen who was based primarily in PNG – after she arrived at Brisbane Airport on a flight from PNG yesterday (11 June, 2025).

She appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon charged with 31 offences and was granted conditional bail to reappear before the same court on 19 September, 2025.

An investigation began in July, 2022, when the AFP’s Northern Command Human Trafficking Team received information from Queensland Police about a group of PNG nationals who had moved to Australia to study but were instead allegedly forced to work against their will on farms.

The woman allegedly lured them to Australia on the promise of full educational scholarships.

The AFP alleges that between March 2021 and July 2023, the woman bought 15 PNG nationals to Australia. Shortly before, or after, their arrival in Australia, the students were allegedly forced to sign legal documents and agree to repay hitherto unmentioned costs associated with tuition, airfares, visa applications, insurance and legal fees.

These unexpected costs placed the PNG nationals in excessive debt.

The woman then allegedly forced the PNG nationals to work on farms at different locations in Queensland – at times in contravention to their visas – and received wages on their behalf from the farm owners. The woman then withheld the wages from the workers as repayments for their debts.

The woman, 56, was charged with:

• Four counts of trafficking in persons, contrary to section 271.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 12 years’ imprisonment;
• 14 counts of deceptive recruiting for labour or services, contrary to section 270.7 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is seven years’ imprisonment; and
• 13 counts of engaging in conduct that caused a person to enter into debt bondage, contrary to section 270.7C of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is four years’ imprisonment.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the AFP remained committed to the protection of vulnerable foreign workers targeted by those driven by greed and profits.

“Victims of debt bondage and other human trafficking offences can be lured to Australia with a promise of a dream career or free education, things they may not have access to in their country of origin," Det-Supt Telfer said.

“If the conditions of that promise change, it can leave victims in an extremely vulnerable situation in a foreign country, where they are likely to have little financial or emotional support, and face issues with language barriers.

“The AFP can help people who are exploited and is focused on ensuring the welfare of victims.”

If you suspect you or someone else is being exploited, or is at risk, help is available. Call 131 AFP (237) or report via the AFP website.

If you have immediate concerns for your safety or that of another person, or there is an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).

If you or someone you know is exploited at work in Australia, visit the Work Right Hub for more information and support.

The Australian Red Cross’s national Support for Trafficked People Program is a key component of Australia's response to support victims of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices. For information and confidential advice call 1800 113 015 or visit the Red Cross website.

As part of its commitment to combatting human trafficking and slavery offences in Australia, the AFP has developed a training and awareness program, ‘Look-a-Little-Deeper' to help state and territory police and other Commonwealth agencies recognise signs of human trafficking and slavery-type offences in the community.

The below can be indicators of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices, which are comprehensively criminalised under Divisions 270 and 271 of the Criminal Code (Cth):

• Employer or manager being unable to show records of wages paid to workers.
• No access to earnings or savings.
• Workers live in places unsuitable for living, such as in agricultural or industrial buildings or in overcrowded or unsafe accommodation.
• No labour contract.
• Forced to work excessively long hours.
• No choice of accommodation.
• Never leave work premises without being escorted by their employer.
• Unable to move freely.
• Disciplined through fines.
• Subjected to insults, abuse, threats or violence.
• Employers don't provide basic training.
• Information is provided in languages other than the local language around the workplace.
• No health and safety notices.
• Employer or manager being unable to show the documents required for employing workers from other countries.
• Health and safety equipment being of poor quality or missing.
• Work equipment being designed or modified so it can be operated by children.
• Evidence of labour laws being breached.
• Evidence workers must pay for tools, or that costs for food or accommodation are being unlawfully deducted from their wages.