Extradition from Indonesia highlights our strong partnership against people smuggling

Today we confirm that Indonesia has extradited an alleged people smuggler to Australia.

Mohammad Naghi Karimi Azar now faces prosecution in Australia for 43 people smuggling offences.

His extradition demonstrates the strong, effective and long-standing relationship between Australian and Indonesian law enforcement agencies.

We remain committed to protecting Australia's borders, stamping out this evil people smuggling trade and preventing people from risking their lives at sea.

Our intelligence tells us that people smugglers will continue to test us and they prey on the hopes of the estimated 14,000 people in Indonesia now waiting to get on to boats to Australia. Any boat attempting to come illegally to Australia will be turned back and those organising these ventures will be tirelessly pursued.

Karimi Azar is the eighth person extradited to face people smuggling charges in Australia since 2008.

The extradition was the result of close cooperation between the Australian Attorney-General's Department, the Australian Federal Police, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Indonesia's Central Authority within the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indonesian National Police and the Indonesian Attorney-General's Office.