AFP Crack Down: Afghan-Born Men Charged In Sydney, Adelaide Arrests
- Staff Writer
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
Australian Federal Police have announced two arrests in separate operations—one in Sydney targeting alleged visa breaches and another in Adelaide that foiled a suspected heroin smuggling attempt. Both involve men of Afghan origin.
Sydney Curfew Breach Charge
A 31-year-old Afghanistan-born man faced the John Maddison Tower Court after being charged with two alleged breaches of his Commonwealth visa conditions.
Australian Federal Police say the man failed to observe a residential curfew and entered an exclusion zone from which he had been barred, both requirements tied to his visa status.
Authorities allege these violations occurred in Sydney. The man was arrested on July 30, 2025, after officers located him in the city. He now faces two charges under the Migration Act 1958: one for failing to comply with a mandated curfew, and another for entering an exclusion zone near a school.
Each offence carries a significant penalty—up to five years in prison and/or a $99,000 fine.
Heroin Haul In Adelaide
In a separate incident at Adelaide Airport, AFP officers—working in tandem with Australian Border Force (ABF)—arrested a 47-year-old dual Australian-Afghan dual citizen after allegedly discovering about 500g of heroin concealed in his suitcase.
According to police, the man arrived in Adelaide on July 29, 2025. ABF officers, acting on targeted intelligence and what they described as "officer intuition," selected the man for a full baggage search after noticing a suspicious black fluid oozing from the handle of his suitcase.
A presumptive field test indicated the substance was heroin, later found to total approximately 500g.
The arrested man faced the Adelaide Magistrates’ Court on July 30 and was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled substance, an offence under section 307.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). This carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment. He is scheduled to reappear in court on September 23, 2025.
Detective Acting Superintendent Simon Lalic stated the case highlights strong collaboration between the AFP and ABF to disrupt the illegal drug trade: "Criminals are motivated by greed. They have no regard for the significant harmful impacts these illicit drugs have on our community."
ABF Superintendent Jody Griswood credited their officers’ expertise in identifying potential threats at the border. “They know exactly what to look for when selecting travellers and their baggage for further examination,” he said. Griswood emphasised that such interceptions are routine, not rare moments of luck, reflecting the high standard of border protection nationwide.
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