British fugitive, 57, attempts to flee Australia on a jetski and armed with a crossbow

A British fugitive allegedly attempted to flee Australia on a jetski while armed with a crossbow – and he made it to within eight kilometres of Papua New Guinea.  

The 57-year-old, who was wanted for alleged drug-related offences in Western Australia, was arrested in mudflats on Saibai Island, off PNG, on Wednesday.

Border police said they received a tip-off a man, ‘possibly armed with a crossbow and carrying additional fuel’ was seen launching the jet ski from remote Pundsand Bay, in the far north-east of Australia. 

Australian Border Force (ABF) officers identified the man’s travel path and uncovered his plans to flee Australia for Papua New Guinea. 

He travelled roughly 150km (90 miles) across the often treacherous waters of the Torres Strait before his arrest. 

The man was transported to Thursday Island, where he was detained by Queensland Police pending extradition to Western Australia. 

The jetski was towed to Saibai island. 

‘We have the ability to detect a range of border threats, including suspicious movements through the region,’ the Australian Border Force’s Jo Crooks said.

The alleged fugitive  was caught eight kilometres from the Papua New Guinea mainland

‘Anyone who thinks they can either enter or leave Australia through the region without detection should think again.

‘This is a perfect example of local intelligence sharing, community support, ABOC coordination and our maritime capability, all working together to enable a quick and effective multi-agency response to a situation.

‘Through our posture in the Torres Strait and working closely with our AFP and Queensland Police partners, we have the ability to detect a range of border threats, including suspicious movements through the region.’  

The UK fugitive allegedly tried to flee Australia on a jetski (pictured)