Three foreigners have been arrested in Sydney by the Australian Federal Police over their alleged role in a people-smuggling operation.
A 26-year-old man, 54-year-old woman, and 32- year-old woman are accused of conspiring to collect a group of illegal boat people who arrived in Western Australia’s remote northern coastline in April this year.
Each person is charged with one count of conspiracy to conceal non-citizens and, if found guilty, could spend a maximum 10 years in jail and face a $313,000 fine.
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Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton has gone on the attack over the incident and the Albanese government’s broader handling of border security.
“People have been able to make it to the mainland without being detected because there has been a reduction in the amount of surveillance and the people-smugglers understand that,” he said.
“The government has walked away from Operation Sovereign Borders, they pretend they support it but they don’t.” But the Albanese government says the arrests send a clear message.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says people who trade in human lives will be busted.
“We’ve got a really tough stance when it comes to people-smuggling,” he said.
The trio of alleged people-smugglers will face Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Friday.