An Indian-origin man in Australia has been charged with trafficking after instigating his wife to come to India and then canceling her visa and leaving her stranded abroad, Australia Today reports.The 35-year-old Canberra man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is the first person in the Australian Capital Territory to face charges under the country’s exit smuggling laws. This crime carries a maximum prison sentence of 12 years.The couple traveled from Australia to India in September 2024, ahead of the birth of their child. The man later told his wife he needed to return to Australia for work and promised he would return before their son was born. He never returned to India.In April 2025, the man fraudulently canceled his wife’s Australian visa application while she was still in India and subsequently blocked her phone number, leaving her stranded in India with their newborn child.The woman was eventually able to return to Australia in August 2025. However, the couple’s son remained in India. The woman later became concerned that her husband was planning to take her back to India and leave her again. He contacted the police in March 2026.The man was arrested on April 14 and is on bail.Under Australian law, exit trafficking occurs when a person uses coercion, deception or threats to arrange or facilitate someone’s leaving Australia for the purpose of exploitation or control. Perpetrators usually confiscate passports, cancel visas or isolate victims abroad as part of the abuse.The Australian Federal Police urged people experiencing migration-related abuse to seek help.“If you suspect that you or someone else is experiencing or at risk of modern slavery or human trafficking, call 131 AFP,” police said.The Home Department said victims supported by the AFP could apply to return to Australia under the human trafficking visa framework while the investigation continues.