Australia said Tuesday it may revoke the visas of an alleged people-smuggling kingpin and six of his associates after reports they were granted asylum and continued arranging boat trips.
An investigation by ABC Television claimed an Iraqi-born people-smuggler known as Captain Emad had travelled to Australia from Indonesia on a refugee boat in January 2010 under a false name and was granted asylum.
Emad was described as the “head of the smugglers, the head of the snake” by an informant who linked him to a powerful Indonesian ring behind two ill-fated boats which sank before reaching Australia, killing almost 150 people.
He was sent as part of a plan to expand the ring’s operations in Australia, along with “at least” another six agents on board his ship who were also granted refugee status, according to the programme which aired on Monday night.
