A man has been charged with “exit trafficking” after allegedly tricking his wife into going to Pakistan on a holiday, taking her passport and flying back to Australia without her.
The husband, 35, faced court in Sydney on Friday after being arrested and charged last month with one count of facilitating the exit of another person from Australia by using threat, deception or coercion, which carries a maximum penalty of 12 years’ imprisonment.
Police allege he deceived his wife into leaving Australia under the pretence of a holiday to Pakistan earlier this year, and “obtained possession” of her passport and other identification documents before they departed.
Then once in Pakistan he alleged purchased a one-way ticket back to Australia for himself, and did not tell his wife.
A few days later she was told she would be staying in Pakistan permanently, and her husband would be returning to Australia alone. Her passport and identification documents were allegedly kept from her, and she was preventing from flying back herself.
After the allegations were reported to police, an investigation was launched and a home in western Sydney was searched on September 16, with officers seizing electronic devices, an airline ticket and identification documents.
Earlier this month an Egyptian man faced court charged with exit trafficking after he allegedly impersonated his wife and cancelled her visa application while she was in the Middle East visiting relatives.
An Indian man was charged with the same offence in May, as was another Pakistani man in June last year.
After the Egyptian man’s arrest, Australian Federal Police Detective acting Superintendent Morag McGowan said exit trafficking often went unreported.
“The sad reality is this does occur in modern Australia, which is why educating the public on the indicators is crucial,” she said.
“Potential indicators someone is being exit trafficked include travelling without a passport in their possession, not having a return ticket or phone, and not being able to provide their contact details on bookings.”
According to police data released late last year, reports of exit trafficking more than doubled over the 2024-25 financial year.
Header image: Left, right, the man being arrested (AFP).
