AUSTRALIA TO STRENGTHEN ITS ANTI-PEOPLE SMUGGLING LAWS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 (Bernama) -- Australia will strengthen its
anti-people smuggling laws by making it an offence for anyone to provide funds
or other support that facilitates the crime of people smuggling in that country.

"Australia is determined to send a strong message that by working closely
with partner countries in the region, people smugglers will be caught and
jailed," the Australian High Commission said in a statement.

New laws to stop people smuggling with penalties of up to 20 years had also
been introduced to the Australian Parliament, the statement said.

The statement said that Malaysia had been working closely with Australia to
combat what it described as a recent surge in people smuggling activity in the
region.

The cooperation resulted in over 700 people being stopped from embarking on
illegal ventures to Australia, it said.

-- BERNAMA



Delete & Prev | Delete & Next