“Once in Australia, the students were coerced into debt and forced to work 10-hour days, seven days a week, on fruit farms,” said AFP.
A Nigerian-Australian woman, Binta Abubakar, has been arrested by Australian authorities for allegedly trafficking 15 Papua New Guinean students and forcing them into unpaid farm labour under false promises of scholarships.
Abubakar, 56, was detained Wednesday at Brisbane Airport following a two-year investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). She allegedly lured students aged 19 to 35 through her company, BIN Educational Services, under the guise of full educational scholarships.
“Once in Australia, the students were coerced into debt and forced to work 10-hour days, seven days a week, on fruit farms,” said AFP.
The wages were reportedly collected and withheld by Abubakar, who allegedly threatened deportation or family retaliation if students resisted.
Abubakar faces 31 charges, including trafficking and debt bondage, and is scheduled to reappear in court September 19.