The Australian Federal Police (AFP) say they expect increased criminal activity, including money laundering and the use of money mules, as Australia’s international border reopens.
Assistant Commissioner for the AFP, Kirsty Schofield said money laundering organisations and criminal syndicates exploited travellers as money mules or collectors to move proceeds of crime on behalf of criminal groups.
“The mules do this via transactions through their personal bank accounts, or by collecting cash and depositing it into banks on behalf of the syndicates,” Assistant Commissioner Schofield said.
“Criminal groups often target international students or non-permanent residents travelling into Australia,” she said.
Assistant Commissioner Schofield said some mules might not be aware their actions were illegal, making it important for the public to be on the lookout for any red flags.
“Travellers should ask themselves why someone would want to use their bank account or transfer money on behalf of another individual,” she said.
Law enforcement Agencies have also called for assistance to help stop human trafficking, following the reopening of the international border.
The AFP and the Australian Border Force urged travellers and workers to learn the signs of suspicious activity at airports and know how to report them to authorities.
Commander for Human Exploitation with the AFP, Hilda Sirec said investigators expected reports of all forms of human trafficking, also called modern slavery, to increase.
“Human trafficking is happening here in Australia and it is up to all of us to work together to protect people who are vulnerable to these exploitative crime types,” Commander Sirec said.
“People may be taken overseas for a forced marriage, tricked into coming to Australia and forced into servitude or be promised to have their visa sponsored through the offer of a good job, but in reality forced to work in squalid conditions for low wages,” she said.
Commander Sirec said forcing someone to leave or enter Australia using coercion, threats or deception was an offence under Australian law and penalties applied.
