PEOPLE SMUGGLERS CHARGED BY AFP
25 November 2009
Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, today praised the work of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for charging two more men with people smuggling offences. Since September 2008, there have been 23 convictions for people smuggling offenders in Australia.
The two Indonesian men aged 32 and 18, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court today for allegedly attempting to facilitate the illegal arrival of 52 people into Australia.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) yesterday charged the men with one count of facilitating the bringing of non-citizens into Australia (of five or more people), contrary to Section 232A of the Migration Act 1958.
The men arrived on 9 October 2009 on a vessel that was intercepted by the Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Bathurst, operating under the control of Customs and Border Protection Command, within close proximity to Ashmore Island.
"People smuggling is a world-wide problem and Australia is committed to working closely with our neighbours to address the issue," Mr O'Connor said.
"Situations around the world mean that large numbers of displaced persons are looking for settlement and can be targeted by, and fall prey to, people smugglers."
People smuggling is not just an issue for Australia – it is a global and regional problem.
Australia is proactively working with our neighbours, through bilateral cooperation and the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, to address this most serious issue. According to the UNHCR 2008 Global Trends report, there were 42 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide at the end of 2008, including 15.2 million refugees.
The Australian Government has committed more than $654 million to implementing a comprehensive people smuggling strategy to combat this issue.
The Government has expanded its presence in the region with the AFP, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service recently setting up or expanding liaison posts devoted to deterring irregular migration.
"The charging of these two Indonesian men brings the total number of people charged by the AFP with people smuggling offences since September 2008 to 63, which is a significant achievement for the AFP and the Australian Government," Mr O’Connor said.
The maximum penalty for people smuggling offences is 20 years imprisonment and/or a $220,000 fine.
Media Contact: Brian Humphreys 0438 595 567
