Image: Sayet Erhan Akca, key suspect in Dural caravan terror hoax
A Queensland man has been arrested for allegedly helping to smuggle a key player in the Dural caravan fake terror conspiracy out of the country.
In January a caravan filled with explosives and a note referencing the Great Jewish Synagogue was found at Dural. It was later revealed the ‘terror plot’ was fabricated, allegedly concocted by organised crime figures “who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit”.
Sayet Erhan Akca was arrested in 2022 during a Federal Police raid on the encrypted messaging platform AN0M, accused of handling money for organised crime.
Sources familiar with the investigation, but not authorised to speak publicly, revealed that a man arrested by the Australian Federal Police in Queensland on Thursday played a role in helping Akca escape.
The same sources also noted that Akca is now a high-level suspect for the joint counterterrorism task force investigating the caravan plot and a series of antisemitic attacks across Sydney since October.
Man Arrested in Connection to People Smuggling including caravan hoax suspect
On Thursday, Federal police arrested and charged a man from Bargara, under Operation Harrakis, with supplying material to support a member of a criminal organisation and one count of people smuggling.
Police alleged that the man and another man crewed a vessel that collected the alleged fugitive in an at-sea transfer before the three men allegedly sailed from Thursday Island on 21 September 2023, and arrived in Phuket, Thailand, on 2 November, 2023.
The fugitive had been charged under Operation Ironside with dealing with proceeds of crime over $100,000, contrary to section 400.4 of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
He was later also charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, contrary to section 11.5 by virtue of section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
AFP Commander Naomi Binstead said the AFP would relentlessly pursue anyone allegedly involved in helping suspected fugitives abscond Australia.
“Alleged criminals facing serious charges and potential penalties of life imprisonment will often do almost anything to avoid facing court,” Commander Binstead said.
“But anyone who helps someone leave the country risks being imprisoned for significant periods themselves,” Commander Binstead stated.
About Operation Harrakis
Operation Harrakis was investigating a criminal syndicate suspected of helping serious organised crime figures flee Australia.
To date, there have been a number of individuals charged under Operation Harrakis.
In January, three people were apprehended on a yacht off the Northern Territory coast. A Dutch man, 51, and a United Kingdom woman, 42, were charged with people smuggling offences, after trying to help a Sydney man depart Australia unlawfully.
They will reappear in Darwin Local Court on 1 April 2025. The Sydney man, 35, had failed to appear in court for an unrelated drug matter, and was subsequently extradited to New South Wales shortly after his arrest.
Additionally, a 46-year-old Irish man was charged in February with providing material support to the people smuggling offence. He has been remanded in custody and will reappear in a Darwin Local Court at a later date.
