CANBERRA, ACT, June 3 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:
This is a joint release between the Australian Federal Police, Western Australia Police Force, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and AUSTRAC
Editor's note: Images available via Hightail
Three people have been charged over their alleged roles in a plot to smuggle an alleged Queensland fugitive out of Australia from Western Australia.
The Western Australia Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (WA JOCTF) arrested the trio and the Queensland man on Monday morning (1 June, 2026) near Exmouth, about 1250km north of Perth.
The Queensland man, 32, an alleged outlaw motorcycle gang member, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court yesterday (2 June, 2026), where he was remanded in custody after Queensland Police successfully applied to extradite him on a return to prison warrant and a drug trafficking arrest warrant. He is also wanted for questioning over multiple serious crimes.
A Queensland man, 46, and a Queensland woman, 45, appeared in Carnarvon Magistrates Court yesterday (2 June, 2026) charged with attempted people smuggling, contrary to section 73.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). It is the first time anyone in WA has been charged with the offence. They were refused bail and are next scheduled to appear in court on 15 June, 2026.
Police will allege the pair travelled from Queensland in May and crewed a newly-purchased yacht from Perth to Exmouth, covering about 1250km north of Perth, where they met the Queensland man to try to smuggle him out of the country.
A third woman, 40, from NSW, allegedly drove the Queensland man to an Exmouth boat ramp ahead of the trip and has been charged with aiding attempted people smuggling, contrary to section 73.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). She appeared in Karratha Magistrates Court yesterday (2 June, 2026) and is scheduled to appear in court again today (3 June, 2026).
The WA JOCTF investigation into the alleged scheme started last month (May).
It led the WAPF tactical response group to intercept a luxury yacht 53km off the coast of Exmouth about 8am on Monday (1 June, 2026), as the captain, a crew member and the alleged fugitive allegedly headed towards Indonesia.
The NSW woman alleged to have assisted the attempt was arrested on Monday as she drove back to Karratha from Exmouth.
Investigations remain ongoing into the organised crime syndicate behind the alleged plot.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector David Blockley said the WA JOCTF continued to harness the combined might of its partner agencies to ensure the safety and security of the Australian community.
"The AFP and our partners have a proven ability to track down alleged offenders and bring them before the courts," Det a/Insp Blockley said.
"The WA JOCTF is well-resourced, capable and unrelenting in our efforts to protect Australians and disrupt criminal activity."
Acting Assistant Commissioner Gordon Fairman, State Crime Portfolio, said the Western Australia Police Force has zero tolerance for organised crime.
"We are relentless in our efforts to ensure that criminals are brought to justice," Acting Assistant Commissioner Fairman said.
"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 exemplified the great partnership between policing 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.
"We have zero tolerance for anyone who participates in the trafficking of dangerous drugs and as demonstrated in this case we will hold any alleged offender to account."
AUSTRAC National Manager, 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," Mr Helmond said.
"Following the money remains one of the most effective ways to disrupt criminal activity and expose the networks enabling it."
The WA JOCTF combines the resources and capabilities of the AFP, WAPF, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and AUSTRAC, to target transnational serious organised criminals causing harm in WA and across Australia.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
