Investigation
Trafficked: An international investigation
A global human trafficking syndicate has exploited flaws in Australian border security and the immigration system that allowed it to run a national illegal sex racket.
- Exclusive
- Human trafficking
Trafficked: Women shunted ‘like cattle’ around Australia for sex work
An international investigation has revealed the identity of the Australia-based Mr Big running a human trafficking ring and an illegal sex racket.
- Nick McKenzie, Amelia Ballinger and Joel Tozer
‘I begged him for my life. I cried begging him to open the door’
Karen was smuggled into Australia from South Korea for sex work, and was sent to a brothel where she was made to work up to 25 hours in a row. She narrowly escaped with her life.
- Nick McKenzie
- Exclusive
- Australian Border Force
‘It’s easy’: Migration agents offering fake visas for $500 a month
Undercover recordings expose flaws in the immigration system despite years of warnings to the federal government.
- Nick McKenzie, Amelia Ballinger and Wing Kuang
- Exclusive
Immigration taskforce to hit visa criminals after trafficking investigation
A new taskforce will target criminals exploiting the migration system after revelations of widespread visa rorting, foreign worker exploitation and drug crime.
- Nick McKenzie
‘Repulsive abuses of human rights’: Alleged human trafficking kingpin under investigation
Binjun Xie, the alleged boss of a human trafficking ring, is now the focus of an investigation by Australian law enforcement agencies and facing deportation.
- Lisa Visentin and Lachlan Abbott
- Opinion
Labour trafficking is leading to a growing underclass of undocumented workers
Australia needs to do more to stop undocumented workers being exploited by organised crime. We cannot sweep the problem under the carpet.
- Abul Rizvi
- Editorial
Gaps in migration system need to be quickly plugged
Failures of the Immigration and Home Affairs departments have allowed a crime boss to enter and operate in Australia after his release from jail in Britain.
- The Herald's View
- Editorial
Laws doing little to tackle visa rorts
While the Home Affairs Department says legislation exists to prevent worker exploitation, it is clear the measures are either not fit for purpose or are not being applied with the rigour required.
- The Age's View
Australia signs deal to counter scourge of human trafficking
Human trafficking has been a long-standing stain on Thailand, with victims including children, Burmese migrants and Thai nationals.
- Chris Barrett
- Exclusive
Watchdog granted licence to a business used by ‘money launderers’
The company got a green light to move money into and out of Australia despite intelligence warnings and the prosecution of a related business in New Zealand.
- Nick McKenzie and Amelia Ballinger
Australian colleges identified in allegedly helping women enter country to work in sex industry
More than a dozen education providers have been identified as allegedly “corrupt” by investigators probing the sex industry.
- Nick McKenzie
- Exclusive
‘Full power’: How Brazilian criminals set up an Australian sex-trafficking business
A court case in South America has revealed how women are smuggled into Australia as part of an elaborate international sex-trafficking ring.
- Nick McKenzie
The migration agent and the Liberal ministers: How one man gamed Australia’s visa system
A company run by Jack Ta, who boasted of “cosy” dinners with former Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton, has been used by more than a dozen drug offenders to remain in Australia on bogus asylum seeker claims.
- Nick McKenzie and Amelia Ballinger
- Exclusive
‘A state of disrepair’: Home affairs minister slams immigration system
Clare O’Neil says criminals are getting into Australia as corrupt agents, and education institutions help traffic sex slaves and drugs. But legitimate workers can’t find their way through a broken system.
- Nick McKenzie and Amelia Ballinger
- Exclusive
‘Industrial scale’ visa scams creating underclass of workers open to exploitation
Up to 100,000 workers have entered Australia using false claims, fuelling fears about illicit labour as the government launches a review of the migration system.
- David Crowe
Other investigations
The dust of death
The dust from cutting engineered stone for Australian kitchens and bathrooms is killing our tradies.
- 12 stories
Cannabis Inc: Australia’s booming medicinal weed industry
Australia’s medicinal cannabis industry has taken boomed since legalisation in 2016 – but its growth is raising questions for many in the health sector.
- 14 stories
Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/national/trafficked-20221030-p5bu3z.html