Police said on Tuesday that some 100 Australian residents and citizens have been sent into Syria, some of whom fight along with the militants against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Peter Drennan said the ringleader was the first suspect arrested following a four-month investigation into Australian citizens trying to enter Syria.
A recruit has also been arrested in connection with the issue, the police official added. “We will allege that one of the men is responsible for organizing travel, arranging overseas contacts and facilitating travel into Syria for Australian citizens to fight on the front line,” Drennan stated.
The 39-year-old ringleader and the recruit, 23, will appear in a Sydney court later in the day. They are charged under the Crimes Act, which stipulates that Australian residents or citizens are banned from traveling to other countries to fight or recruit others to fight. The law carries a maximum 10-year jail sentence.
New South Wales State Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn said that six Australians had already entered Syria to fight in the conflict.
“We have identified who we believe is the principle person involved in the facilitation network of sending people over to Syria to engage in conflict,” she said.
The Syrian army has several times identified foreign nationals among the militants.