Trio Arrested for Assisting in Parental Abduction Across Australia

Australian Federal Police (AFP) have arrested three men for allegedly assisting the parental abduction of children across the country.

AFP officers searched 10 locations in Grafton and Dubbo, New South Wales, Perth, Western Australia, and Townsville, Queensland, and arrested two men from Grafton. A 64-year-old was accused of organising and funding efforts to help two women abduct their children and conceal them from authorities, and the other, 63, for his part in organising the event. The pair had been charged with offences in relation to conspiracy to defeat justice and deal in the proceeds of crime.

A Townsville man, 83, was held responsible for helping them and had been charged with deal in the proceeds of crime and aid and abet the publication of an account of proceeding.

A Prosecution Notice was also served on a Perth woman on October 17 for her alleged involvement in the crime. She will appear before Perth Magistrates Court on December 14.

Addressing the ongoing investigation, AFP Assistant Commissioner Debbie Platz said: “During this two-year investigation, 10 missing children have been safely located in the custody of a parent who has abducted them. Five of these are believed to be linked to this group of people”. Credit: Australian Federal Police via Storyful