An Irish national is expected to appear before Darwin Local Court today (4 February, 2025), charged for allegedly driving a wanted fugitive more than 4600km from New South Wales to the Northern Territory last month.
The man, 46, was arrested in Nhulunbuy on Sunday (2 February, 2025) and is the third person charged over an alleged plot to smuggle a man - facing criminal charges laid as part of the AFP-led Operation Ironside - out of Australia.
It will be alleged in court the Irish national travelled to Sydney to collect a man, 35, who had allegedly absconded from a rehabilitation facility in Swan Bay, north of Newcastle.
The Irish man allegedly drove a camper van containing the 35-year-old alleged fugitive north from Sydney through Queensland and into the Northern Territory, travelling via the Central Arnhem Road, to Nhulunbuy.
It will be alleged the pair left Sydney on 8 January, 2025, and arrived in Nhulunbuy on 11 January, 2025. The total length of this journey is estimated at 4680km.
The alleged fugitive was arrested by members of the AFP, with the assistance of Australian Border Force and NT Police on 26 January, 2025, on a vessel sailing north in the Arafura Sea, after he failed to appear in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on 20 January, 2025.
The AFP allege the 35-year-old was a member of a syndicate which used the ANOM platform to import illicit drugs into Australia.
AFP Commander Paula Hudson said the AFP would continue to identify all people involved in this alleged criminal endeavour.
"We promised last week the AFP would be relentless in ensuring everyone involved in this alleged criminal venture is brought to justice, and we are achieving that," Commander Hudson said.
The AFP charged the Irish national with one count of providing support for the offence of people smuggling, contrary to section 73.3A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). This offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.
AFP investigations into this matter remain ongoing.
