A 35-year-old man has been charged with human trafficking after allegedly tricking his wife into travelling to India before cancelling her visa and abandoning her overseas.

Police allege the couple travelled to India in September 2024 ahead of the birth of their child. While there, the man allegedly told his wife he needed to return to Australia for work and promised he would come back before the birth.

Authorities allege he never returned to India and instead fraudulently cancelled his wife’s visa application in April 2025 before blocking her contact number.

The woman eventually managed to return to Australia in August 2025, however the couple’s son remained in India.

Police claim the woman later became concerned her husband was planning to take her back to India and abandon her again. She contacted police in March 2026.

The man was arrested on 14 April and is due to appear before the ACT Magistrates Court on 28 May 2026 charged with exit trafficking.

Under Australian law, exit trafficking occurs when a person uses coercion, deception or threats to arrange or facilitate someone leaving Australia for exploitation or control.

Authorities allege offenders may cancel visas, confiscate passports or isolate victims overseas as part of the offence.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 years’ imprisonment.

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