Human Trafficking and Organised Crime in Australia: A Hidden Crisis

Human trafficking remains one of the most insidious and profitable forms of organised crime in Australia. Yet it often escapes public awareness until a shocking case emerges. Recent events in Brisbane underscore the extent to which this crime is entrenched and diverse.

Unveiling the Problem

Though popularly associated with sexual exploitation, human trafficking in Australia takes many forms: forced labour, debt bondage, domestic servitude, forced marriage, even organ trafficking. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) received 340 reports of trafficking and slavery‑related offences in the 2022–23 financial year.  This marks a 46‑case rise from the previous year (AFP, 2023). Deeper data from mid‑2022 shows that of 150 recorded modern slavery incidents, 31 % were forced marriage, 25 % sexual servitude, 21 % cross‑border trafficking, and 18 % forced labour (AIC, 2023).

While some trafficking operations stem from highly organised criminal enterprises, academic reviews find the offenders in Australia are a mix. Some are tightly networked syndicates, others are semi‑professional brokers or even family‐run schemes (AIC, 2014).

Let us share a recent and disturbing case that underscores this complexity:

Case Study: The Binta Abubakar Arrest, June 2025

In June 2025, a dual Australian–Nigerian citizen was arrested and charged with 31 offences related to human trafficking, forced labour, and debt bondage. The woman allegedly lured 15 young people aged 19–35 from Papua New Guinea. They were lured under the false promise of scholarships and education. Instead, they were subjected to exploitative farm labour, while being housed in deplorable conditions. This included shipping containers. They also lived without pay or legal protections. According to the Australian Federal Police, the victims were forced to work for up to 14 hours a day, 6–7 days a week (AFP, 2025).

Survivor Mental Health and Our Work at The Freedom Hub

At The Freedom Hub Survivor School, nine of these fifteen survivors have been rebuilding their lives. For many months, they had been learning, healing, and preparing for sustainable employment. They were hopeful, optimistic about their future in Australia. That all changed when the arrest was made.

Since that announcement, fear and anxiety have returned. These survivors have been retraumatised by the looming court case. They have anxiety around visas, the justice system, and their future in Australia has spiked. As one survivor told us,

“I don’t know what the future will bring. I am afraid for me, my family, and what my life will look like. I am scared of where I will end up.” Another added, “I thought I was helping myself and those I love. Now I fear for us.”

This ripple effect of trauma is not uncommon. Research shows that revisiting traumatic events, especially in court proceedings, can significantly impact survivors’ mental health, triggering PTSD symptoms, stress, and deep uncertainty (Keller et al., 2022, Journal of Traumatic Stress).

Asian Organised Crime: Beyond Drugs and Money

While public attention often focuses on drug trafficking, organised crime networks from Asian countries, including China and Vietnam, have also been implicated in human trafficking into Australia. A 2023 qualitative study highlighted that Chinese criminal networks trafficked vulnerable women from Thailand, South Korea, and China into the Australian sex industry, using deceptive recruitment and passport confiscation. These syndicates strategically exploit immigration loopholes and cultural vulnerabilities (AIC, 2023).

Australia is also affected by transnational syndicates like the “Sam Gor” cartel, one of the largest criminal networks in the Asia-Pacific. Known for combining drug trafficking, money laundering, and human exploitation. Victoria Police intelligence and AFP investigations have linked Chinese triads such as Wo Shing Wo and 14K to prostitution, illegal gambling, and visa fraud. All are mechanisms that may underpin human trafficking operations (ABC, 2023).

Bikie Gangs: Platforms for Organised Crime

Though not yet formally charged with human trafficking, Australian outlaw motorcycle gangs such as the Hells Angels, Rebels, Comanchero, and Bandidos are heavily involved in criminal infrastructure. These include methamphetamine production, extortion, arms trafficking, and money laundering. In January 2025, ex-Hells Angels twins were convicted in a major meth-trafficking case, highlighting the organised structure and transnational reach of these groups (ABC, 2025). The Australian Institute of Criminology acknowledges that these criminal ecosystems can enable trafficking indirectly by offering protection, networks, and laundering mechanisms for proceeds of exploitation (AIC, 2012).

3 Ways We Can All Help

👉 Ensure survivors are protected long-term. We can all advocate for trauma-informed justice and stable visa pathways.
👉 Support organisations working on the front lines.  Programs like The Freedom Hub offer peer support, consistent emotional, and life-skills support.
👉 Educate yourself and others – Recognising the red flags of trafficking and exploitation can save lives. Keep learning by reading articles like this.

Conclusion

Human trafficking is not just happening “somewhere else”; it’s here. It’s in our communities, and it is affecting people who dared to dream of a better life. The recent arrest in Brisbane reminds us not only of the evil that still exists but of the deep emotional scars it leaves behind. At The Freedom Hub, we are committed to walking alongside survivors, not just through recovery, but through the re-triggering moments when justice finally catches up.

Sharing this post will help us raise awareness and maybe prevent others from falling into this trap.

Note: The Freedom Hub are running Fivers for Survivors for UN Day Against Trafficking. Any organisation, school, or group can join this. Find out more at: https://thefreedomhub.org/fivers-for-survivors

Fivers for Survivors Day

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References

• AFP, “Human trafficking reports continue to increase,” 2023.

• AFP, “Dual Australian and Nigerian citizen charged with human trafficking,” 2025.

• AIC, “Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery in Australia: HTMS Data Report,” 2023.

• AIC, Trafficking case studies and offender profiles, 2014.

• AIC, “Organised Crime in Australia,” 2023.

• AIC, “Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs and Criminal Infrastructure,” 2012.

• ABC News, “Chinese crime gangs infiltrating Australian businesses,” 2023.

• ABC News, “Ex-Hells Angels twins jailed for meth trafficking,” 2025.

• Keller et al., “The Psychological Toll of Testifying,” Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2022.

• The Freedom Hub, Survivor School Overview: www.thefreedomhub.org