Man charged for allegedly smuggling fugitive out of Australia to Thailand

A man is scheduled to appear in court today, accused of assisting a member of an organized crime group to flee the country illegally. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) stated that the 57-year-old man, from Bargara in the Bundaberg region of Queensland, allegedly worked with another man to pilot a boat and rendezvous with the fugitive at sea.

It is alleged that the three individuals departed from Thursday Island in Northern Queensland on September 21, 2023, and arrived in Phuket, Thailand, 11 days later. The fugitive was previously charged with dealing with proceeds of crime worth more than $100,000 and faced a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

The fugitive was charged as part of "Operation Ironside," a three-year covert investigation into Australian crime syndicates' use of the AN0M platform. The AN0M platform was designed by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and deliberately introduced into criminal circles to gather evidence. Subsequently, he was also charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, an offense carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Federal Police raided a residence near Bundaberg, Queensland, yesterday, seizing electronic devices, including laptops and mobile phones. After a preliminary examination of the phone, information was allegedly discovered showing communications between the 57-year-old man and facilitators of the overseas crime group, relating to arrangements for the fugitive to flee the country.

The man is charged with intentionally providing material support to a criminal organization and engaging in people smuggling, offenses that combined carry a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. He is expected to appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court later today. The Australian Federal Police have declined to comment on whether the fugitive has been arrested and extradited back to Australia.