A Nigerian man who lives in Australia was arrested for human trafficking allegedly after he brought 15 international students to Australia under false pretenses.
Authorities believe that the man, who is 33 years old and a resident of Brisbane had been running an illegal business that targeted students in need. He offered students education and more prospects in Australia. But, many students were placed in dangerous living conditions and had to endure pressure to perform.
Students came from a variety of countries and were lured by fake claims of enrollment and visas for students. However, investigations showed these schools connected to were either fake or did not provide a quality education.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) as well as The Australian Border Force (ABF), as well as the Australian Federal Police (AFP) took the action following months of following the suspect. The suspect is currently facing charges relating to the trafficking of human beings, forced labour as well as visa fraud.
One ABF official said, “These students were told they would get an excellent education and a better life in Australia However, instead they were abused. Some of them were working for days in poor conditions and earning less or no money.”
The investigation has revealed that the man made cash by charging students huge fees for fake agreements. A few students are believed to have paid a lot of money, only to be able to get into Australia and discover they are in a system that offered no actual support.
The reports say that students were made to stay in homes with a high number of beds or were threatened with deportation if they wanted to voice their opinions. A lot of them were denied a means of returning home, and some were afraid of being deported in the event of revealing violence.
The suspect has been believed to have been working with other people, and investigations are continuing to locate others involved. The police say the arrest sends a clear message that human trafficking cannot be allowed to continue.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs confirmed that assistance is being offered to those affected. The students are being taken care of by social workers and legal teams. They are also being supported by steps that have been taken to safeguard their rights as the case is ongoing.
This incident has brought up new concerns regarding the increase of scams involving student visas and how easily foreign students could be scammed. Officials are encouraging individuals to report any suspicious offers and check the validity of the institutions before applying for study abroad.
The Nigerian High Commission in Australia has yet to issue an official statement, however there are increasing calls for cross-border collaboration to prevent human trafficking, and safeguard students from being exploited.
The suspect is expected to appear before a judge soon. If he is found guilty, he could face lengthy prison sentences in accordance with the strict laws against trafficking in Australia.
