A German national has become the second person charged for allegedly smuggling an alleged Operation Ironside offender out of Australia in September, 2023.
The man, 51, is expected to face Darwin Local Court today (24 March, 2025) charged with one count of people smuggling, after the AFP arrested him in Darwin on Friday (21 March, 2025).
The latest charge comes after ongoing investigations by the AFP under Operation Harrakis, which is investigating a criminal syndicate suspected of helping serious organised crime figures flee Australia.
Police will allege the German national and a Queensland man, who was charged last week (20 March, 2025), crewed a vessel that collected the alleged Operation Ironside offender, 35, in an at-sea transfer before the three men allegedly sailed from Thursday Island on 21 September, 2023, arriving in Phuket, Thailand, on 2 November, 2023.
The German national allegedly hired the Queensland man as a deck hand about 10 days before the yacht left Australia.
The 35-year-old accused fugitive who allegedly fled Australia on the yacht had been charged under Operation Ironside with dealing with proceeds of crime over $100,000, contrary to section 400.4 of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.
He was later also charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, contrary to section 11.5 by virtue of section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Operation Ironside was a three-year, covert, AFP-led investigation into significant organised crime syndicates that were using dedicated encrypted communications device, named AN0M, to traffic illicit drugs and weapons to Australia, as well as order local executions.
About 400 offenders have been charged with more than 2350 charges under Operation Ironside.
AFP Commander Naomi Binstead said Operation Harrakis was committed to dismantling an active people smuggling network intent on assisting alleged serious organised criminals to avoid the consequences of their illegal activities.
"As soon as someone decides to assist an accused criminal flee Australia, they are committing an offence themselves and the AFP will relentlessly pursue them," Commander Binstead said.
"Everyone involved in schemes to smuggle people out of Australia faces significant terms of imprisonment."
The offence of people smuggling, contrary to section 73.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth), carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.
