The Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Task Force have extradited and arrested a 27-year-old man from Queensland for his alleged involvement in people smuggling.
On 20 June 2023, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Northern Territory Police Force and Australian Border Force with support from Queensland Police; located and arrested the male in Bowen, Queensland and extradited him to the Northern Territory.
Police will allege that over an extended period between October 2022 and January 2023 the man provided material support to a on 25 January 2023. The fugitive was located hidden within the hold of a yacht attempting to leave Australia and travel to Indonesia to avoid criminal prosecution.
AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said “Providing support that allows or facilitates these criminal organisations to commit offences across the country is as serious as committing those offences themselves.
“This extradition should demonstrate that through our partner agencies co-operating, the capability exists to target these criminal groups regardless of where they are located within Australia.
“The ongoing combined work within our Joint Organised Crime Task Force continues to produce results targeting criminal offending affecting the Northern Territory.”
The man will appear in Darwin Local Court today.
