Armoured trucks allegedly used to smuggle cash around Australia as federal police charge group with money laundering offences
A security company allegedly used an armoured transport service to smuggle cash around the nation as it laundered millions of dollars of criminal proceeds.
Three men — aged 32, 48 and 58 — and a 35-year-old woman have been charged with multiple money laundering offences, Australian Federal Police say.
Investigations continue into the scheme that allegedly transferred $190 million into cryptocurrency between October 2022 and May 2024.
Authorities have restrained 17 properties, bank accounts and luxury cars in NSW and Queensland worth more than $21 million, allegedly purchased with tainted money.
'This investigation has unravelled a sophisticated operation that allegedly moved illicit cash around the country,' AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer told reporters on Monday.
'It was truly a national operation, laundering the profits of criminal ventures across the country, (and) these cash profits were being flown into Queensland to be washed and returned to individuals.'
Investigators allege the Gold Coast-based security company used a complex network of bank accounts, businesses, couriers and cryptocurrency accounts to launder millions of dollars of illicit funds over 18 months.
'The results we are announcing today will deliver a significant blow to alleged individuals, whoever relied on this operation to turn their ill-got profits into property portfolios, luxury cars and cryptocurrency,' Mr Telfer said.
The 48-year-old man and the woman, who were the director and general manager respectively of the security business, were each charged with a money laundering offence.
The couple was granted bail to face Southport Magistrates Court on July 21.
The 58-year-old man is accused of funnelling laundered money through a business account to a separate business account controlled by the 32-year-old man.
He was also charged with two money laundering offences and was granted bail to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 1.
The 32-year-old man is accused of laundering $9.5 million through the operation over 15 months.
He has been charged with money laundering and failing to provide the password to a mobile phone.
He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
More money to Moscow than Kyiv: Australia buying billions in fuel using Russian crude despite sanctions against Kremlin
Australia's dependence on imported oil—much of it refined from Russian crude—has handed the Kremlin billions of dollars in tax revenue from exporters, according to new research. While Australia has proudly pledged $1.5 billion in aid to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion, a new report found the country has funnelled even more money to the Kremlin. Data from the Europe-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) estimated Australia has imported more than AU$3.7 billion worth of oil products derived from Russian crude. The oil is refined overseas—including at the Jamnagar Refinery in India, which has not sanctioned Russian crude—before being legally imported into the Australian market. This would have handed Russian President Vladimir Putin about AU$1.8 billion in tax revenue, according CREA. CREA's EU Russia Analyst Vaibhav Raghunandan called it 'a significant failing of Western sanctions', exposing a glaring loophole that lets Russia bypass restrictions. 'Refineries in non-sanctioning countries buying Russian oil are… taking comfort in the knowledge that they will face no action from Western countries,' he said. Mr Raghunandan said countries like Australia 'look away and continue to import refined products', indirectly funding Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) warned this 'policy blind spot' was 'actively undermining our credibility' as a nation. ASPI's Director of National Security Programs John Coyne called Australia's dependence on Russian-linked fuel 'a serious national security failure and a strategic contradiction'. 'We cannot claim to support Ukraine and uphold a values-based foreign policy while simultaneously fuelling our economy with Russian-linked petroleum,' he told Sky News. 'According to reports, Australia has sent more tax dollars to the Kremlin through these imports than we've provided to Ukraine in aid. That's indefensible.' Resources Minister Madeleine King did not respond to questions asked by Sky News about the issue. Due to fuel security issues, Australia has continued to rely on imports in order to deliver its national energy demands. According to the latest Australian Petroleum Statistics, there are just 56 days of fuel supply on shore, well below the International Energy Agency's 90-day requirement. Mr Coyne said Australia's critically low domestic fuel reserves was a vulnerability. 'Our domestic fuel reserves remain critically low… Australia is dangerously exposed to global supply disruptions, conflict, or coercion,' he said. 'We are one maritime chokepoint or geopolitical flare-up away from a fuel crisis.' Mr Coyne urged the federal government to take immediate action to bolster sovereign energy capability and national resilience. 'The era of cheap energy and blind reliance on market forces to solve national problems is over. Governments can no longer outsource resilience,' he said. 'Right now, Australia is precariously vulnerable to any disruption in the global liquid fuel supply chain and that vulnerability cuts across defence, emergency response, agriculture, and logistics.' He said to address the problem, the Albanese government must close the refining loophole in its sanctions regime and improve sovereign refining and storage capacity. He added the government needed to 'embed fuel security in a coordinated, whole-of-government resilience strategy'. 'This is not just about economics. It's about whether Australia can function, respond and defend itself under stress,' Mr Coyne said.
West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
Shire of Shark Bay finishes building 12 social units for seniors, thanks to $4 million State Government grant
A $4 million State Government capital grant has been used to build a dozen social homes for seniors in the coastal Gascoyne town of Denham. The Shire of Shark Bay recently completed the 12 properties under the Shark Bay Aged Housing Project, which aims to meet the growing need for well-located, appropriate and affordable housing for seniors. The 12 one-bedroom independent living units were built by Carnarvon-based Northern Aspect Construction next to the recently established community hub. Housing and Works Minister John Carey said the units would allow current and future tenants to age at home and enjoy quality amenities and support services in Shark Bay. 'Since July 2021, our government has executed more than $200 million in capital grants contracts,' he said. 'The delivery of these homes is a great example of State and local governments working together to get a positive outcome for the community.' Overall, the State Government has invested $5.1 billion into housing and homelessness measures, adding more than 3000 social homes across WA. More than 1000 are currently under contract or construction.
Perth Now
14 hours ago
- Perth Now
Enormous cocaine haul intercepted
Authorities have intercepted a mammoth haul of cocaine worth an estimated $82m as it was smuggled into Brisbane in a shipping container. The Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police found the 253kg supply after receiving a tip about a suspicious container being imported. After X-raying the container, ABF officers found huge black plastic bags filled with a white substance, which was then tested and returned a positive result for cocaine. The bags were tucked away on top of pallets of polyethylene, a legal product used for packaging. Authorities seized 253kg of cocaine in Brisbane, worth $82m. AFP Credit: Supplied ABF Commander Troy Sokoloff said the seizure was made because of vigilance and rapid action from the ABF and AFP. 'I want to commend the highly skilled officers in our supply chain and cargo teams who were vital to the interdiction of this dangerous consignment, thereby preventing significant community harm,' Commander Sokoloff said. 'To those criminal syndicates who mistakenly believe they can infiltrate our borders with illicit drugs, let this serve as a powerful warning: the ABF, in close collaboration with the AFP, have eyes and ears everywhere. 'Our sophisticated intelligence networks, advanced screening technology and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the community mean that your attempts will be detected, your drugs will be seized, and you will be held to account.' The massive haul of white powder was intercepted in a shipping container. AFP Credit: Supplied The black plastic bags were smuggled on top of pallets of polyethylene. AFP Credit: Supplied AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the AFP warned smuggled that Australia was committed to stopping drugs from crossing our borders. 'The people behind these crimes have no regard for the harm and damage that illicit drugs wreak on the Australian community every minute of every day,' Det Supt Telfer said. The AFP will investigate who was responsible for smuggling the cocaine, and urged anyone with information on the 'failed plot' to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers.
