Latest news with #BintaAbubakar
9 News
2 days ago
- 9 News
Woman charged for allegedly luring people to Australia from Papua New Guinea
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Australian Federal Police (AFP) have charged a woman over what's described as a "disturbing" human trafficking operation between Queensland and Papua New Guinea . They claim victims were promised fake scholarships then forced to work as fruit pickers, accommodated in shipping containers and alarmingly, transported in car boots. Authorities say Binta Abubakar left Australia two years ago but when she returned to Brisbane International Airport yesterday, AFP officers were waiting. A Queensland woman has been charged over an alleged human trafficking operation targeting people from Papua New Guinea. (9News) "Police will allege the woman lured Papua New Guinea nationals to Australia with the promise of fully funded scholarships," Adria Elfer from the AFP said. Abubakar is described as the CEO of BIN Educational Services and Consulting on its website. The business acted as an agent for Central Queensland University until 2023 and lists a rundown Victorian property as its office address. Abubakar, a dual Australian and Nigerian citizen, is accused of exploiting fifteen victims, as young as 19 years old, over a two-year period. Authorities say Binta Abubakar left Australia two years ago but when she returned to Brisbane International Airport yesterday, AFP officers were waiting. (9News) "When those persons arrived into Australia, they were instead forced to work on farms to pay off debts that they had not previously been told about," Telfer claimed. Fruit picking in the Moreton Bay and Lockyer Valley regions for up to 70 hours a week, as she allegedly pocketed their wages, unbeknownst to the farmers employing them. "Some of them at times were living in fairly oppressive conditions, some in the boot of a car," Telfer claims. The 56-year-old (in white) is facing 31 charges and if convicted could spend up to 12 years behind bars. (9News) The 56-year-old is facing 31 charges and if convicted could spend up to 12 years behind bars. She appeared in court yesterday, and was granted bail. Police believe there may be more victims, and they're appealing for them to come forward. Australia queensland trafficking police Brisbane papua new guinea CONTACT US
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Australian-Nigerian woman arrested for allegedly trafficking Papua New Guinea students to work on remote farms seven days a week
A Nigerian-Australian woman allegedly trafficked students from Papua New Guinea to work on Queensland farms by luring them with fake scholarships. Australian Federal Police on Wednesday arrested the dual-citizen, 56-year-old Binta Abubakar, after she landed at Brisbane Airport from PNG, where she was primarily based. AFP began investigating the woman in July 2022 after its Northern Command Human Trafficking Team received a tip from Queensland Police. In a statement, AFP said it was told 'a group of PNG nationals who had moved to Australia to study were instead allegedly forced to work against their will on farms'. Abubakar allegedly tricked 15 students to come to Australia by promising them full educational scholarships though her company, BIN Educational Services and Consulting, between March 2021 and July 2023. Her website promised customers a 'holistic and modern approach to education, training and employment'. However, shortly after they arrived in Australia, the PNG nationals - aged between 19 and 35 - were allegedly forced to sign a series of legal documents. Police allege those included an agreement to repay 'unmentioned costs associated with tuition, airfares, visa applications, insurance and legal fees'. 'These unexpected costs placed the PNG nationals in excessive debt,' AFP allege. In order to pay off their loan, the PNG nationals were allegedly forced to work on farms across Queensland, at times against the rules of their visa. It's understood those properties included fruit farms in the Lockyer Valley and Stanthorpe where they worked 10 hours a day, seven days a week. The farmers did not know of Abubakar's alleged scheme. If they refused to comply, Abubakar allegedly threatened to have the students deported or intimidated their family in PNG. Abubakar would allegedly receive the wages on the workers' behalf and withhold them to pay off their remaining 'debt'. She was charged with 31 offences and was granted conditional bail to reappear before the same court on September 19. Those offences included four counts of trafficking in persons, 14 counts of deceptive recruiting for labour or services, and 13 counts of engaging in conduct that caused a person to enter into debt bondage. AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the AFP is committed to protecting vulnerable foreign workers who are 'targeted by those driven by greed and profits'. 'Victims of debt bondage and other human trafficking offences can be lured to Australia with a promise of a dream career or free education, things they may not have access to in their country of origin,' he said. 'If the conditions of that promise change, it can leave victims in an extremely vulnerable situation in a foreign country, where they are likely to have little financial or emotional support, and face issues with language barriers. 'The AFP can help people who are exploited and is focused on ensuring the welfare of victims.' Police urged anyone aware of foreign workers being exploited in Australia to contact authorities.
