A Nigerian-Australian woman, Binta Abubakar, has been arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for allegedly trafficking students from Papua New Guinea (PNG) and forcing them into unpaid labour on farms in Queensland under the guise of offering educational scholarships.
Abubakar, 56, was taken into custody at Brisbane Airport on Wednesday upon her return from Papua New Guinea, where she had been operating.
Her arrest followed a two-year investigation launched by the AFP’s Northern Command Human Trafficking Team in July 2022 after receiving a tip-off from Queensland Police.
Investigators allege that between March 2021 and July 2023, Abubakar used her company, BIN Educational Services and Consulting, to lure at least 15 PNG nationals aged between 19 and 35 to Australia with promises of full scholarships and study opportunities.
However, instead of pursuing education, the individuals were reportedly forced to work under exploitative conditions on farms in areas such as Lockyer Valley and Stanthorpe.
According to police, once the students arrived in Australia, they were made to sign documents committing them to repay vague “costs” including tuition, travel, visa, insurance, and legal fees.
To settle these debts, they were allegedly forced to work up to 10 hours a day, seven days a week, with their earnings withheld by Abubakar.
Authorities said the farmers employing the students were unaware of the alleged exploitation and were not involved in the scheme.
Further allegations revealed that when some students resisted or failed to comply, Abubakar threatened to report them to immigration authorities or used intimidation tactics against their families back in PNG.
She is facing 31 criminal charges, including four counts of human trafficking, 14 counts of deceptive recruitment, and 13 counts of causing individuals to enter into debt bondage. She has been granted conditional bail and is expected to return to court on September 19.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer condemned the alleged abuse, stressing the agency’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals who fall prey to false promises of education and employment.
“Victims of debt bondage and human trafficking are often drawn to Australia with the hope of a better life. But when those promises are broken, they find themselves isolated, unsupported, and vulnerable,” he said.
Telfer urged the public to report any suspected exploitation and reassured that the AFP prioritises victim welfare.
This arrest comes just weeks after 13 suspected members of a Nigerian mafia group were detained in western Germany, drawing further attention to the growing concern of international human trafficking networks.
