World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
Man charged over alleged plan to traffic woman and children from Australia
A 37-year-old man has been charged in Melbourne over an alleged plan to traffic a woman and her two young children from Australia to Pakistan.
Police say the woman and children knew the man and were expected to leave through Melbourne Airport.
Police allege he threatened the woman to make her travel.
Exit trafficking involves using coercion, threats, deception or force to take someone out of a country against their will.
Officers separated the group before they could leave Australia, after receiving information from a member of the public.
Police searched a home in Melbourne's north and seized devices and documents for forensic examination.
The man appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court, and the charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison.
A 37-year-old man has been charged in Australia over an alleged plan to traffic a woman and her two young children to Pakistan.
Police allege he threatened the woman to compel her to travel.
Investigators say they located and separated the group before their planned departure from Melbourne Airport.
The man appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 years’ imprisonment.
- Who
- A 37-year-old Pakistani man who lives in Melbourne was charged.
- What
- He is accused of organising the proposed exit of a woman and her two children from Australia using coercion, threats or deception.
- When
- He was charged on Friday and appeared in court on Tuesday. The article was published on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- Melbourne, Australia; police allege the group was to leave via Melbourne Airport.
- Why
- Police allege the man threatened the woman to compel her to travel to Pakistan.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Australian Federal Police officers launched an investigation.
Investigators located and separated the woman and children from the man, according to police.
The man was charged, and police executed search warrants in Glenroy.
The man appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court.
- Suspect
- 37-year-old Pakistani man living in Melbourne
- People allegedly at risk
- A woman and her two young children
- Alleged destination
- Pakistan
- Departure point
- Melbourne Airport
- Charge
- Organising the proposed exit of another person from Australia using coercion, threats or deception and obtaining compliance
- Maximum penalty
- 12 years’ imprisonment
What people are saying
The AFP will not tolerate attempts to force, threaten or manipulate people into leaving Australia against their will.
In this matter, we allege a vulnerable woman and her young children were at risk of being removed from Australia against their will.