Accused people smuggler jumps country A man accused by Four Corners of running an Australian-based people smuggling syndicate has fled the country. Transcript EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: The man accused of running an Australian-based people smuggling syndicate has fled the country, despite being the target of a long investigation by the federal police. The AFP revealed today that the alleged smuggler, known as Captain Emad, flew out of Melbourne on Tuesday, a day after he was exposed by the Four Corners program. Now that he's bolted, questions are being asked about why he wasn't stopped. Amy Bainbridge reports. AMY BAINBRIDGE, REPORTER: This is the man Australians know as Captain Emad. It's alleged he's the ringleader of a people smuggling network. After coming here by boat, he evaded authorities by posing as a refugee. Four Corners tracked him down and found him working as a trolley collector at a shopping centre in the Canberra suburb of Gungahlin. After his Monday night appearance on national television, he fled the country. TONY NEGUS, AFP COMMISSIONER: When leaving Australia, the man triggered a longstanding alert at Melbourne Airport and at that time there was an operational decision made by investigators that he could not be detained, as the officers had no lawful basis to prevent him from departing Australia. This was despite the material recently aired on the Four Corners program being thoroughly analysed by our investigators. AMY BAINBRIDGE: The AFP says it's been investigating a people smuggling syndicate that's been operating for two years