Evidence of people smuggling on illegal foreign fishings boats

Garngi Rangers assisted four foreign nationals who arrived on a foreign fishing boat at a remote Northern Territory island northeast of Darwin, claiming they had paid US$6,000 to be brought to Australia.

The men were left on Peacock Island early on Sunday morning and walked over to nearby Croker Island at low tide.

Later that night, one of the men walked into Wanakutja Outstation seeking help, and locals from the Minjilang community were called to assist. A second man was found en route to Alamirra (Big Creek) where rangers were camped as part of a marine research project.

Garngi Rangers provided first aid to the men who were dehydrated and suffering from exhaustion. They gave them food and water, and set them up with swags and a tent for the night.

Communicating via a translator app, the foreign nationals revealed there were two more people in the area. They were located by the rangers at a nearby beach the following morning.

The rangers contacted Australian Border Force (ABF) and NT Police and continued to care for the men until they arrived at Croker Island on Monday afternoon.

Rangers regularly patrol and monitor Aboriginal-owned coastlines across the Territory, supporting the work of agencies such as ABF and Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) as well as the Australian Defence Force.

A recent influx of foreign fishing boats along the West Arnhem Land coastline has concerned rangers due to the threats to the Territory’s sustainable fisheries management, land and marine ecosystems, border security, biosecurity, and community safety.

Quotes attributable to NLC Chair Matthew Ryan: 

“This example of people smuggling by illegal foreign fishermen makes it very clear there is no room for complacency. We need a much tougher approach from Federal Government authorities.

“These illegal fishermen have been stealing from our Sea Country and encroaching on our land for a long time now and they have recently stepped up the pace. Now we know for sure that they’re people smuggling as well, which takes it to a whole new level.

“These poor blokes were dumped with no food or water and left to fend for themselves; and it’s no exaggeration to say that without the help from our rangers and Croker Island community members, they would have been in very deep trouble. I’m giving a big shout out to the Garngi Rangers for the compassion they showed these men, and for keeping them safe until authorities arrived.

“Rangers play an important role in supporting AFMA and ABF to keep our Country and Australia safe, and the Federal Government must make sure ranger groups are properly resourced and equipped.

“The ABF say they’re not ‘overly concerned’ but we are, and are calling on them to do their job properly.”