Human trafficking numbers that are alarming authorities in Australia

The Australian Federal Police has revealed there was a sharp rise in alleged human slavery and trafficking offences this year.

As the year comes to a close, the agency said it had charged 790 people with 1848 offences across the country in 2024.

Shockingly, the AFP said reports of human slavery reached an all-time high during the year with a 12 per cent increase in 2023-24 compared with the previous year.

The agency received 382 reports of human slavery and trafficking including forced marriage, forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic slavery and debt bondage.

There was also one report of organ trafficking in 2023-24.

In July, a Sydney man was arrested who police allege was the mastermind of an international criminal syndicate which recruited Indonesian-based victims to be trafficked to Australia.

It has been alleged that he was involved in transporting a 17-year-old from Indonesia to Sydney for sex work.

Human slavery and trafficking is often well hidden but authorities hope that by shining a light on the unseen pandemic, they will helpto eradicate it.

According to a UN report, one in three victims of trafficking are children.

Meanwhile, the AFP revealed it stopped 33.7 tonnes of drugs and seized $110m in assets being imported into Australia in 2024.

That included Operation Kraken - one of the federal police force’s most significant operations which saw it crack down on the Ghost encrypted app, which it alleges was built exclusively for the criminal underworld.

The AFP arrested Sydney man Jay Je Yoon Jung, who is alleged to have been the mastermind behind the encrypted app .

The 32-year-old was arrested at his Narwee home and charged with five offences including supporting a criminal group and dealing with the proceeds of crime. He remains before the courts.

Operation Kraken resulted in 52 people being charged and 230kg of drugs being seized.

Additionally, the Joint Counter Terrorism Teams - which comprises the AFP, state police and other federal agencies - charged 17 people during counter-terrorism operations.

Of those 17 charged, 12 were aged 17 or younger.

The AFP also charged 1062 people with over 1200 offences at Australian airports.

AFP officers patrol nine major airports across the country - including Sydney airport.

The offences range from assault, offensive behaviour and money laundering.

AFP assistant commander Bill Polychronopoulos said the force wouldn’t sleep over the holidays and into the new year.

“Our message to criminals is that the AFP won’t be slowing down over the holidays and our work is never done,” Assistant Commander Polychronopoulos said.

“The AFP doesn’t take a holiday and will continue to work collectively alongside our domestic and international law enforcement partners to combat corruption and investigate crime – both onshore and offshore.”