Sydney, June 12: A dual Australian and Nigerian citizen has been charged with multiple human trafficking offences after allegedly deceiving Papua New Guinea nationals into coming to Australia with false promises of full scholarships.
The 56-year-old woman was arrested upon arrival at Brisbane Airport on 11 June 2025 from Papua New Guinea and appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court that afternoon. She was granted conditional bail and is set to reappear on 19 September 2025.
According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the woman allegedly trafficked 15 PNG nationals to Australia between March 2021 and July 2023. She is accused of exploiting them through deceptive recruitment practices and debt bondage.
An investigation was launched in July 2022 following a referral from Queensland Police regarding a group of PNG nationals who had arrived in Australia under the guise of educational opportunities but were instead allegedly forced to work on farms under exploitative conditions.
The AFP alleges the woman arranged for the victims to enter Australia and then coerced them into signing legal agreements committing to repay unanticipated costs related to their relocation and supposed education. These included tuition, travel, visa and legal fees, which resulted in excessive debt.
The students were then allegedly made to work on various Queensland farms in breach of their visa conditions, with wages paid directly to the accused, who withheld the money as debt repayments.
She has been charged with 31 offences, including four counts of trafficking in persons (maximum 12 years’ imprisonment), 14 counts of deceptive recruiting (maximum seven years), and 13 counts of conduct causing a person to enter into debt bondage (maximum four years).
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said human trafficking remains a priority for the AFP, and that support is available for victims. The agency urges anyone who suspects exploitation to contact authorities or the Red Cross’s Support for Trafficked People Program.
The AFP also highlighted several indicators of potential human trafficking and slavery-type offences, such as withheld wages, restricted movement, unsafe living conditions, and verbal or physical abuse.
The case forms part of ongoing efforts by the AFP and its partners to detect and prevent exploitation of foreign workers in Australia, particularly through deceptive labour practices and coercive debt arrangements.
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