The AFP has charged a Sydney man with the alleged domestic trafficking of children, following a complex AFP-led human trafficking investigation in Australia and Indonesia.
The man, 30, appeared before Manly Local Court today (30 October, 2024) after he was arrested at Manly yesterday and charged with the domestic trafficking of children and possession of child abuse material.
The AFP will allege the man was a senior member of an organised crime syndicate which profited from trafficking women and children from Indonesia to Australia to be sex workers.
The man allegedly trafficked a child for sex work in Sydney on two occasions between January and March, 2024.
As a result of the investigation, the AFP has removed multiple potential victims from sexual exploitation in Australia.
The Sydney man has been charged with:
- Two counts of domestic trafficking in children, contrary to section 271.7(c)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). This offence has a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). This offence has a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.
- One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). This offence has a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.
The Sydney man was formally refused bail and is expected to next appear in court on 8 January, 2025.
He is the second Australian charged under Operation Mirani, an AFP-led investigation which began in December 2022 after the AFP received intelligence alleging foreign nationals were arriving in Australia and being forced into sexual servitude in breach of their visa conditions.
An Arncliffe man, 43, was arrested in July, 2024, and charged with one count of trafficking in children, contrary to section 271.4 (1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.
The AFP will allege the Arncliffe man is the principal of an organised crime syndicate which profited from human trafficking and worked with an Indonesian-based recruiter to find victims to send to Australia.
On 12 September, 2024, the Arncliffe man was charged with the further offences of:
- Two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
The Arncliffe man is remanded in custody and is next expected to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 12 November, 2024.
An Indonesian woman, suspected of being a recruiter for the criminal group, was arrested by INP in Jakarta in March, 2024, as part of Operation Mirani.
She was charged with human trafficking offences, contrary to article four of the Indonesian Law on the Eradication of the Criminal Act of Trafficking in Persons 2007, which carries a maximum penalty of 17 years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said anyone who sought to exploit and profit vulnerable people through human trafficking should expect to face the full extent of the law in Australia.
"Human trafficking investigators work tirelessly to help victims and ensure they are removed from harmful situations," he said.
"Organised crime syndicates will exploit any opportunity for profit, including trafficking human beings, so it is vital the AFP and our partners dismantle these groups and bring them before the courts.
"We understand it can be incredibly difficult for vulnerable victims to come forward, and we want to assure them that there is help and protection available."
Foreign workers and temporary visa holders should not be afraid to seek help if they believe they are being exploited while in Australia. If you suspect that you or another person is experiencing, or at risk of, forced labour, or someone you know is being exploited, help is available. Call 131 AFP (237) or report via the AFP website.
If you have immediate concerns for your safety, the safety of another person, or there is an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).
If you or someone you know is exploited at work in Australia, visit the Work Right Hub
