A western Sydney man has been charged with exit trafficking of his wife to Pakistan.
The AFP’s Eastern Command Human Trafficking Team launched Operation Kisurra in November 2023 after receiving a report from a woman who claimed her husband had left her in Pakistan without documentation after the family travelled overseas together from Australia.
The man, 29, allegedly deceived the victim about the purpose of travel, telling her they were going to go to Pakistan to see her family. The woman agreed to the trip, and the man, she and their two children flew to Afghanistan in July 2023 for a holiday, then continued to Pakistan.
While travelling, it was alleged the man retained control of the family’s tickets, passports, visas and other travel documents.
The AFP alleged that after the family arrived in Pakistan, the man had told the woman he was going back to Afghanistan to visit friends. However, in September 2023, the victim found out he had returned to Australia alone.
The AFP worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to ensure the woman and her children were able to safely return to Australia.
During the investigation, AFP officers executed a search warrant at the man’s Auburn home, where several items were seized as evidence.
The AFP then arrested the man Wednesday and charged him with one count of exit trafficking of a person from Australia by using deception, contrary to section 271.2(1A) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for the offence is 12 years’ imprisonment.
AFP Detective acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said exit trafficking was an insidious and often underreported criminal offence.
“Exit trafficking can involve a person using coercion, deception or a threat, to organise or facilitate another to leave Australia,” Detective acting Inspector Tsardoulias said.
“No one has the right to force or deceive anyone to leave Australia, or to prevent them from returning against their will.
“We want victims to know the AFP is here to help them and that their safety and wellbeing is our primary concern when we are investigating these matters. Each case is handled with compassion and great care, and the victim’s needs are always paramount.”
