Man who allegedly helped man suspected of caravan ‘terror plot’ to flee country to face court

A man who allegedly helped an organised crime figure, believed to have been behind the fabricated caravan terror plot in NSW, to flee the country is set to front court.

Police believe Sayet Erhan Acka was behind a fabricated anti-Semitic terror plot after an explosives-laden caravan was found in Dural in January.

The caravan initially sparked fears of a mass casualty event; however, the Australian Federal Police revealed it was instead a “fabricated terrorist plot” that was “concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit”.

The Daily Telegraph revealed Mr Acka may have used the fabricated terror plot as leverage for a reduced prison sentence over drug charges.

Sean Eamon Ryan, a 57-year-old Bargara man, has since been charged with people smuggling, with The Australian reporting he was allegedly involved in helping Mr Acka flee the country by boat in 2023.

Mr Ryan is suspected of helping an organised crime figure flee the country, with the AFP to allege a suspected fugitive was collected in a sea transfer by a vessel crewed by the Bargara man and another man in September 2023, with the vessel arriving in Phuket in November.

The alleged fugitive – believed to be Mr Acka, according to The Australian – had been charged with dealing with proceeds of crime of more than $100,000 as well as conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs under Operation Ironside, which was launched by the AFP to investigate organised crime syndicates trafficking illicit drugs and weapons to Australia.

Devices including laptops and mobile phones were seized from a home near Bundaberg in Queensland on Thursday.

Correspondence between Mr Ryan and offshore criminal syndicate facilitators discussing arrangements for a fugitive to flee the country was allegedly found on the devices.

Mr Ryan was charged with one count of intentionally providing material to support resources to a member of a criminal organisation and one count of people smuggling, the latter of which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

AFP Commander Naomi Binstead said “alleged criminals facing serious charges and potential penalties of life imprisonment will often do almost anything to avoid facing court”.

“But anyone who helps someone leave the country risks being imprisoned for significant periods themselves,” Commander Binstead said.

“The AFP has meticulously picked apart the operations of this alleged criminal syndicate facilitating the movement of fugitives and yesterday’s operation is a testament to the skill and dedication of our investigators.”

Mr Ryan is set to front Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday.