A man from western Sydney is set to appear in Burwood Local Court after being charged with allegedly exit trafficking his wife to Pakistan, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The AFP’s Eastern Command Human Trafficking Team initiated Operation Kisurra in November 2023 following a report from a woman who claimed her husband had abandoned her in Pakistan without documentation after they traveled abroad together from Australia.
The 29-year-old man is accused of misleading the victim regarding the trip’s purpose, claiming they were traveling to Pakistan to visit her family. The woman consented to the journey, and the man, along with her and their two children, flew to Afghanistan in July 2023 for a holiday before proceeding to Pakistan.
During the journey, it is alleged that the man kept control of the family’s tickets, passports, visas, and other essential travel documents.
Upon their arrival in Pakistan, the man purportedly informed the woman that he was returning to Afghanistan to visit friends. However, in September 2023, the victim realized he had returned to Australia alone.
The AFP worked alongside the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to facilitate the safe return of the woman and her children to Australia.
As part of the investigation, AFP officers executed a search warrant at the man’s residence in Auburn, seizing several items as evidence.
On September 25, 2024, the AFP arrested the man and charged him with one count of exit trafficking a person from Australia through deception, violating section 271.2(1A) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this crime is 12 years in prison.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias expressed concerns regarding exit trafficking, labeling it an insidious and frequently underreported crime.
“Exit trafficking can involve an individual using coercion, deception, or threats to facilitate another person’s departure from Australia,” Detective Acting Inspector Tsardoulias remarked.
“No one has the right to force or deceive someone into leaving Australia or to prevent their return against their will. We want victims to know the AFP is here to assist them, and their safety and well-being are our primary focus during these investigations. Each case is treated with compassion and utmost care, prioritizing the victim’s needs.”
