Eighteen wanted criminals in Australia and offshore have been tracked down by the AFP's specialist Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (FAST), which has worked with state and international authorities to facilitate their extradition.
The AFP can today reveal FAST's operational success, including details of ten separate investigations into offshore fugitives wanted in Australia, and alleged criminals living in Australia wanted by overseas authorities.
Those finalised investigations include:
- A man, 51, wanted for fraud offences by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission was identified and arrested in Poland, and extradited to Australia on August 2022.
- A man, 34, wanted in Australia for armed robbery, died awaiting extradition in Germany. He was arrested in August 2022 by German authorities after intelligence was provided by FAST.
- A man, 45, wanted for child sex offences was located in Brisbane by FAST and extradited to the UK in July 2022.
- A woman, 55, was identified and arrested on the Gold Coast by FAST, and extradited to Korea on May 2022 for fraud offences.
- A man, 20, wanted by Northern Ireland Police for driving causing grievous bodily injury, was located in NSW by FAST and extradited to the UK in March 2022.
- A man, 51, wanted for fraud, who removed his ankle monitoring device, was extradited to Queensland in December 2021. He was located by the FAST in Victoria.
- A man, 34, was arrested in Victoria and on October 2021 was extradited to New Zealand for drug offences after being located by the FAST.
- A man, 31, who was arrested in Victoria and extradited to New Zealand in May 2021 to face drug trafficking charges.
- A man, 38, who was arrested in India wanted for murder in Queensland.
- A man 46, arrested in Darwin and wanted for drug importation in NSW.
The other eight matters are unable to be disclosed at this stage for operational or judicial reasons.
The FAST was established by the AFP in February 2021, and is a dedicated AFP transnational capability focussed on pursuing and arresting fugitives wanted for serious Commonwealth, state and territory offences.
AFP Commander Transnational Crime Richard Chin said FAST had a laser focus on identifying and bringing to justice serious criminals hiding in Australia, and those fugitives overseas wanted by Australian law enforcement.
"In fewer than two years, FAST has landed a serious blow against criminals trying to evade law enforcement,'' Commander Chin said.
"There is no safe haven for international offenders living in Australia.
"Equally, those offshore fugitives wanted by Australian authorities should know the AFP is coming, and one by one we are locating them, and working with our partners to bring them back to Australia to face the justice system.
"Few agencies have offshore capabilities like that of the AFP. The AFP is posted in 33 countries and our partnerships with overseas law enforcement agencies provides invaluable intelligence sharing and cooperation to help protect Australia and our way of life."
