Australia tipped off PNG on slave boat

Australian authorities provided information to Papua New Guinea in the lead-up to an operation that rescued slaves aboard a Thai fishing boat.

Australian border authorities believe their tip-off to Papua New Guinea played a part in the rescue of slaves aboard a Thai fishing boat.

Six Cambodians and two men from Myanmar who are human trafficking victims are now in transit accommodation in Port Moresby and being cared for by the International Organisation for Migration before they're returned home.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection says it had not received any specific request for operational assistance but had been passing on intelligence.

"We believe that information sharing has been a key part in the PNG operation," a spokesman said in a statement.

The boat, Blissful Reefer, is believed to be part of a wider fleet of about 30 fishing trawlers manned by trafficked crew off the PNG coast.

It was intercepted off Daru near the Torres Strait a week ago.

Australian Border Force has a strong presence in the area and conducts regular patrols using boats, planes and helicopters.


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Source: AAP


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