An Australian Federal Police investigation has cracked an illegal labour ring involving unsuspecting Papua New Guinea students forced to work in Queensland.
The investigation began after the AFP Northern Command Human Trafficking Team was alerted that PNG nationals were being lured to Australia through fake academic scholarships then allegedly forced to work on farms against their will.
Police once held grave fears for up to 15 Papuans between 2021 and 2023 over their treatment from the the mastermind behind the plot.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the 56-year-old dual Nigerian-Australian citizen allegedly threatened the students with deportation would they not comply with her instructions.
"She also allegedly threatened family members back in PNG," he said.
Binta Abubakar has been granted bail and will face a total of 31 charges ranging from trafficking in persons, deceptive recruiting for labour or services and engaging in conduct that has caused a person to enter into debt bondage, and is now set to reappear in Brisbane Magistrates Court for the trial on September 19.
She is facing a maximum term alone of 12 years in prison for trafficking in persons.
Australian Federal Police will allege that some of the students were forced to work seven days a week and up to 10 hours a day in their job.
The victims, aged from 19 to their mid-30s, were found to have been forced to sign documents to agree to repay costs associated with tuition, airfares, visa applications, insurance and legal fees.
Ms Abubakar is accused of forcing the Papuans to work on farms across Queensland while withholding their wages as repayments for their "debts".
Police have alleged she had forced the group to live in "oppressive conditions", including in a shipping container on one farm.
Police also had information that suggested some of students had been driven long distances in the "boot of a car".
Some of the victims were left traumatised from the experience and with the support of the Red Cross remain in Australia.
Det Supt Telfer said the investigating detectives have found the allegations "quite disturbing".
"These are individuals, who are young, that's a point of vulnerability," he said.
"They're extremely isolated.
"They are pursuing an education, a dream to come here to Australia, opportunities that they do not get in their own country, and they're placed into a position that they weren't prepared for and didn't know how to get out of."
