CANBERRA, ACT, June 19 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:
A Brisbane man, 32, is expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court today (19 June, 2026) charged after allegedly piloting a 'black flight' to smuggle two Australian fugitives into Indonesia.
AFP investigators attached to the North Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF) arrested the man at Brisbane Airport last night (18 June, 2026) on his arrival to Australia from Indonesia.
The AFP began an investigation in November 2025, when Indonesian immigration officials detained four men - two pilots and two passengers - who had arrived via aircraft at Merauke, province of South Papua, Indonesia.
Inquiries revealed the undeclared passengers as two Sydney men wanted by the NSW Police Force, including one man, 34, who was on bail for kidnapping offences, with conditions to not approach any point of interstate or international departure. The other man, 35, has three outstanding arrest warrants, including for large commercial drug supply and manufacture.
Police allege two pilots - the Brisbane man and an Indonesian man - flew as a 'black flight' as its transponder was deactivated from Coen to Port Stewart in Far North Queensland.
It is alleged the two fugitives boarded the flight in Port Stewart and the plane continued to fly with its transponder deactivated until it was above international waters off the Far North Queensland coast.
The flight landed in Merauke, Indonesia, where the men were detained and the aircraft seized by Indonesian immigration officials.
The Brisbane man was charged with two counts of people smuggling, contrary to section 73.1(1) of the Criminal Code(Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
A Woolshed man was arrested in March 2026, charged with allegedly coordinating the sophisticated people smuggling operation to help the fugitives escape from Australia.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said black flights seemed like an attractive option for criminals who think they can evade law enforcement, but in reality, they are costly and incredibly dangerous.
"A black flight involves a light aircraft that logs false or no flight plans, flies at a very low altitude or turns off flight monitoring systems to avoid law enforcement," Det-Supt Telfer said.
"These flights are extremely reckless and anyone taking part is seriously risking their life and those on board.
"The North Queensland JOCTF is committed to detecting, disrupting and dismantling serious organised crime, especially those attempting to exploit the remoteness of our region.
"But we need the community's help - anyone who sees suspicious activity at their local airport or airstrip is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."
In February 2026, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett announced the AFP and Queensland Police Service launch of the North Queensland JOCTF to protect vulnerable communities and Australian sovereignty by targeting serious organised crimes, such as people smuggling and drug trafficking.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
