Man charged with allegedly trafficking wife, one-year-old out of Sydney to Pakistan

The Australian Federal Police have charged a Sydney man who allegedly abandoned his wife and one-year-old child in Pakistan.

A Sydney man has been charged for allegedly leaving his wife and one-year-old child stranded in Pakistan.

An investigation was launched by the Australian Federal Police’s Eastern Command Human Trafficking team after a woman reported her husband left her and their child in Pakistan.

She alleged the three had travelled overseas from Australia together in August 2024 after the husband, aged 45, deceptively convinced her to travel to Pakistan.

“On arrival, he allegedly took the child’s passport and abandoned the pair at the airport,” the AFP allege.

The southwest Sydney man allegedly abandoned his wife and child at the airport after arriving in Pakistan. Picture: AFP

The man reportedly travelled back to Australia alone a month later.

Police allege the man then fraudulently cancelled his wife’s Australia visa in November the same year and reinstated possession of his child’s passport – the child was born in Australia and is an Australian citizen.

The wife was able to return to Australia in February 2025 and reported the incident, and the AFP investigators engaged with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to facilitate the child’s return to Australia.

On Wednesday June 11, the AFP executed a search warrant at a home and seized a number of electronic items and documents.

The man was then charged with two counts of trafficking a person from Australia by using deception, and one count of dealing with identification information involving the use of a carriage service.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 12 years imprisonment and five years’ imprisonment, respectively.

However, AFP Acting Superintendent Luke Needham said the allegations could be described a as potential “exit trafficking” offences.

Exit trafficking refers to when a person is coerced, deceived or threatened to leave Australia against their will.

The man has been charged with two counts of human trafficking and one count of dealing with identification information involving the use of a carriage service. Picture: AFP

“Carrying out actions to force or encourage someone to travel overseas and then impede their ability to return to Australia can be a serious criminal offence, and the AFP will not hesitate to act when we have evidence of criminal actions,” he said.

“Exit trafficking offences quite often occur within family units or in situations where close relationships have disintegrated, and there is a concern these types of offences are under-reported in Australia.
“The AFP encourages anyone who suspects they, or someone they know, has been a victim of exit trafficking to come forward,” he added.

“All complaints will be taken seriously and appropriately assessed with dignity, and the AFP can help victims obtain the support and assistance they require.”

The man is set to face Liverpool Local Court on July 11.