Accused outback people smugglers face court
A trio of accused people smugglers who allegedly planned to pick up asylum seekers from a remote airbase in the Kimberley and drive them to Sydney have been arrested.
National
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A trio of accused people smugglers who allegedly planned to pick up asylum seekers from a remote airbase in the Kimberley and drive them to Sydney have been arrested.
Zhongfang Zhang, 26, Shuyan Hong, 54, and Shuai Sun, 32, were due to face court in Sydney on Friday each charged with one count of conspiracy to conceal non-citizens.
They face up to 10 years’ in jail if convicted but it was expected they would apply for bail.
The trio were arrested in Sydney on Thursday and had been living in New South Wales.
They were accused of being the transport and logistics crew for an unlawful boat arrival in the Kimberley region in far north Western Australia on April 5.
A boatload of 15 Chinese nationals was found near the Mungalalu Truscott Airbase, about 20 hours drive from Darwin along outback roads.
At least one of those who arrived was found at the unfenced airbase, which raised security concerns.
The arrivals were flown on a charter flight from the RAAF Curtin base to Nauru where they remain for processing.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the issue at the time, saying that “unauthorised arrivals will not be settled in Australia”.
Opposition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson at the time raised concerns about a drop in maritime patrols.
AFP Commander Counter People Smuggling Melinda Phelan said when announcing the arrests that “the AFP is warning members of the community to not encourage, or facilitate, unlawful ventures to Australia.”
“There are serious penalties for these offences, including significant jail time,” she said.
The trio were arrested following a joint agency investigation from Operation Sovereign Borders, including the Australian Border Force.
Commander Phelan said an all-agency approach and co-ordination was necessary to stop people smugglers.
“The Task Force is part of a whole-of-government approach to tackling the unlawful activities of people smugglers who willingly place the lives of others at risk, for their own financial gain,” Commander Phelan said.
Operation Sovereign Borders says on its website that every illegal boat attempting to enter Australia has been caught since 2013.
The Kimberley arrival in April was the third boat intercepted this year.
Indonesian fishermen have been increasingly fishing in waters off the far north Western Australian coast.
However, Australian authorities have deep intelligence links with counterparts in Asia to monitor the movement of vessels before they arrive here.
The Australian Border Force said: “The Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) is about defeating people smugglers who manipulate vulnerable men, women and children to risk their lives at sea.
“This activity is a salient reminder to anyone who is involved with or attempts an irregular maritime journey: You will be caught and not settle in Australia, there is zero chance of success.”
Originally published as Accused outback people smugglers face court
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