Two men have been charged over an alleged people smuggling operation that saw at least a dozen Chinese nationals illegally arrive on Australia’s remote Queensland coastline.

Chein-Wen Peng, a 34-year-old Taiwanese national, is alleged to be one of the masterminds behind the plot.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: People smugglers charged after Weipa boat arrival

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In a dramatic 48-hour spiral, he went from shopper to police suspect to facing possibly 20 years in jail.

Speaking in Mandarin, he told a court: “I don’t know anything about smuggling any humans.”

Late on Thursday, a 30-year-old Chinese man was also charged, accused of facilitating the boat trip of the illegal foreign nationals who arrived in Weipa earlier this week.

“By the time they woke up this morning, every single one of them had been removed from Australia,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed in parliament.

Chein-Wen Peng, a 34-year-old Taiwanese national. Credit: 7NEWS

CCTV captured police arresting a man inside a Weipa shopping centre. Credit: 7NEWS

However, officials have refused to reveal where the Chinese nationals have been taken.

Those who came ashore in Weipa are now in detention, marking another breach of Australia’s 34,000-kilometre coastline.

“It highlights a long-standing challenge for Australian border security,” said Dr Hai Luong, Griffith University Criminologist.

The smugglers targeted Weipa, a remote town with a population of just 4000, likely because of its isolation.

“The smugglers, they’re not stupid, right?” said Luong.

Experts on human trafficking and crime gangs, who believe it’s unlikely smugglers would use the same route again.

CCTV captured the men in a shopping centre. Credit: 7NEWS

An Australian Border Force helicopter landed near campers after authorities were alerted to the group’s arrival on a remote beach north of Weipa. Credit: 7NEWS

Despite the breach, political tensions remain high, with the government defending its record.

“This sort of activity is what sends a message to people smugglers, wherever they might be. We can get you into Australia, pay us a big wad of cash and we’ll get you there safely,” shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam said.

“Not a single successful people smuggling operation under the watch of this government. It’s not going to start now,” Labor MP Matt Smith said.

In an extraordinary move, the region’s local Labor MP has called on his own party to increase border protection.

“As I said, I’m calling for more funding and to expand Operation Broadstar from the Torres Strait into the Cape,” Smith said.

Both of the men charged will face court again on Friday.