A 59-year-old Iranian man has today been jailed for people smuggling activities. The man was sentenced to an aggregate term of 12 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to nine people smuggling offences.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is one of the 16 Federal Government agencies contributing to Australia's Operation Sovereign Borders. More than 1200 people have drowned in the attempt to reach Australia on small and often unseaworthy vessels that were unsuited to long voyages across the open ocean.
The AFP investigation into the man, who was then based in Indonesia, identified he was a key facilitator in organising passengers for multiple suspected illegal entry vessels travelling from Indonesia to Australian territory between November 2011 and May 2013.
On 28 October 2014, the Indonesian National Police arrested the man in Jakarta, pursuant to an Australian extradition request.
On 29 September 2016, the man was extradited to Australia, where he was charged with people smuggling offences.
On 19 July 2019, the man pleaded guilty to the following offences:
- Two counts of the aggravated offence of people smuggling, contrary to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth)
- Seven counts of the offence of people smuggling, contrary to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth)
The man appeared at the NSW District Court on 7 April 2020, where he was sentenced to an aggregate term of 12 years imprisonment; backdated to 28 October 2014. He will be first eligible for parole on 27 October 2022.
Australia is committed to stamping out people smuggling in our region and will continue to pursue criminal people smugglers. Our message to anyone organising an illegal maritime venture to Australia is simple: you have zero chance of success.
