A Sydney man has been charged over a scheme where a woman was prevented from returning to Australia after she travelled overseas to visit relatives.

The 44-year-old Ryde man allegedly accessed the woman’s online immigration accounts without permission and began the process of cancelling her visa before she left Australia for Egypt in November 2024.

Police allege he impersonated the woman during the process and changed the login details to her immigration accounts, locking her out of them.

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Once she was overseas, police allege he cancelled her return flight.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched an investigation in January after receiving a report that the woman had been exit trafficked from Australia to Egypt.

Exit trafficking occurs when a person uses coercion, threats or lies to take another person overseas, according to Smartraveller.

Investigators raided a home in Ryde on Wednesday, seizing three mobile devices and a laptop that will undergo forensic examination.

The man was arrested and charged with coercing, threatening or deceiving a person to obtain compliance in relation to their exit from Australia, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of 12 years behind bars.

He was also charged with dealing in identification information using a carriage service with the intent to impersonate another person to commit an offence, which carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear before the NSW Bail Division Court on Thursday.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Morag McGowan said exit trafficking was an “insidious” crime that was often underreported.

“No one has the right to deceive anyone to leave Australia against their will. This type of behaviour is a criminal offence and carries a potential 12-year jail sentence,” McGowan said.

“The sad reality is this does occur in modern Australia, which is why educating the public on the indicators is crucial. 

“Potential indicators someone is being exit trafficked include travelling without a passport in their possession, not having a return ticket or phone, and not being able to provide their contact details on bookings.”