A failed bid to smuggle a suspected Queensland fugitive to Indonesia has landed three people in WA courts.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) says officers from a WA joint crime taskforce arrested three people onboard a yacht at 8am on Monday (June 1) off the coast of Exmouth, about 1250km north of Perth.
The suspected fugitive, a 32-year-old Queensland male, allegedly belongs to an outlaw motorcycle gang member and appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 2, the AFP says.
He was held in custody to await extradition to Queensland on return-to-prison and drug trafficking arrest warrants; he is also wanted for questioning over multiple serious crimes, the AFP says.
PEOPLE SMUGGLE CHARGES
A man, 46, and woman, 45, both from Queensland, appeared in Carnarvon Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 2, charged with attempted people smuggling; they were refused bail and will appear in court again on June 15.
The AFP says it is the first time anyone in WA has been charged with attempting to smuggle people.
Police will allege in court that the pair travelled from Queensland in May to crew a newly-bought yacht from Perth to Exmouth, where they met the younger man at a boat ramp.
A third person, a 40-year-old woman from NSW, allegedly drove the suspected fugitive man to the Exmouth boat ramp and was arrested on Monday as she drove back to Karratha, police say.
She was charged with aiding attempted people smuggling, faced Karratha Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 2, and was due to re-appear in court yesterday, June 3.
Investigations are continuing into the plot.
AGENCIES SOUND WARNING
AFP Detective Acting Inspector David Blockley said the WA joint taskforce is able to draw on the combined reach and power of multiple agencies.
“The AFP and our partners have a proven ability to track down alleged offenders and bring them before the courts,” he says.
“The WA JOCTF is well-resourced, capable and unrelenting in our efforts to protect Australians and disrupt criminal activity.”
WA Police’s Acting Assistant Commissioner Gordon Fairman says the Western Australia Police Force has zero tolerance for organised crime.
“The arrest of individuals for allegedly attempting to smuggle an alleged Queensland fugitive out of Australia demonstrates our unwavering commitment to disrupting criminal networks and holding offenders to account.”
Queensland Police Service Detective Inspector Dave Barron said the arrest exemplifies the partnership between police agencies.
“We’re grateful to our colleagues at the AFP and Western Australia Police Force who worked with us to locate the wanted Queensland man,” Det-Insp Barron said.
AUSTRAC National Manager for Law Enforcement, Anthony Helmond, said financial intelligence from his agency played a key role in identifying assets and individuals involved in the alleged smuggling operation.
“AUSTRAC intelligence supported law enforcement efforts by identifying critical financial transactions tied to the alleged attempted fugitive escape,” Helmond says.
“Following the money remains one of the most effective ways to disrupt criminal activity and expose the networks enabling it.”
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