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News.com.au
19-06-2025
- News.com.au
Lamborghinis, fake watches and $10m in cash: Social media scam busted in police sting
Police have busted a $10m counterfeit luxury goods ring, seizing nine luxury cars, hundreds of fake designer items, cash, and a firearm in sweeping raids across western Sydney. Organised Crime Squad detectives arrested three men in the early-morning raids sparked by an extensive investigation into an organised criminal syndicate allegedly involved in selling fake luxury goods. Officers allege the group used social media sites to sell fake high-end clothing, shoes, handbags and watches, moving an estimated $9.75m in profits through various bank accounts. Strike Force Alcova detectives swooped on properties in Fairfield East, Merrylands and Guildford, on Wednesday, locating nine cars including Lamborghinis worth about $3m, more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, $270,000 in cash, and a gel blaster firearm. A 30-year old in Fairfield East, a 33-year old in Merrylands and a 30-year-old in Guildford were arrested and taken to Granville Police Station. The 30-year old Fairfield East man was charged with multiple offences including concealing proceeds of crime, and participating in a criminal group. The 33-year-old man from Merrylands was charged with similar offences and the 30-year old from Guildford was also charged with failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction. All three were refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Local Court later on Thursday. Organised Crime Squad commander Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said the arrests sent a clear message to organised crime groups. 'We will allege these individuals built a multimillion-dollar empire by deceiving consumers and undermining legitimate businesses,' he said. 'Behind the filters and followers was a sophisticated criminal enterprise exploiting digital platforms to sell counterfeit luxury goods. 'This kind of organised crime will not go unchecked. The NSW Police Force, working closely with the NSW Crime Commission, has not only arrested those responsible but are actively targeting the profits they've made illegally.' NSW Crime Commission executive director Darren Bennett added the operation had uncovered a significant stockpile of assets. 'The evidence suggests this criminal group stockpiled significant wealth – vehicles, cash, and luxury goods – through the sale of counterfeit items. These assets are now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission,' he said. 'We've commenced proceedings to recover millions of dollars, with the aim of returning that money to the people of NSW. This is a clear example of how financial investigations can strike at the heart of organised crime.'
Perth Now
19-06-2025
- Perth Now
$10m fake luxury goods ring busted
Police have busted a $10m counterfeit luxury goods ring, seizing nine luxury cars, hundreds of fake designer items, cash, and a firearm in sweeping raids across western Sydney. Organised Crime Squad detectives arrested three men in the early-morning raids sparked by an extensive investigation into an organised criminal syndicate allegedly involved in selling fake luxury goods. Fake watches were seized. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire Officers allege the group used social media sites to sell fake high-end clothing, shoes, handbags and watches, moving an estimated $9.75m in profits through various bank accounts. Strike Force Alcova detectives swooped on properties in Fairfield East, Merrylands and Guildford, on Wednesday, locating nine cars including Lamborghinis worth about $3m, more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, $270,000 in cash, and a gel blaster firearm. A gel blaster firearm was discovered. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire $270,000 in cash was also seized. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire A 30-year old in Fairfield East, a 33-year old in Merrylands and a 30-year-old in Guildford were arrested and taken to Granville Police Station. The 30-year old Fairfield East man was charged with multiple offences including concealing proceeds of crime, and participating in a criminal group. The 33-year-old man from Merrylands was charged with similar offences and the 30-year old from Guildford was also charged with failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction. All three were refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Local Court later on Thursday. Three men were arrested. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire Organised Crime Squad commander Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said the arrests sent a clear message to organised crime groups. 'We will allege these individuals built a multimillion-dollar empire by deceiving consumers and undermining legitimate businesses,' he said. 'Behind the filters and followers was a sophisticated criminal enterprise exploiting digital platforms to sell counterfeit luxury goods. 'This kind of organised crime will not go unchecked. The NSW Police Force, working closely with the NSW Crime Commission, has not only arrested those responsible but are actively targeting the profits they've made illegally.' NSW Crime Commission executive director Darren Bennett added the operation had uncovered a significant stockpile of assets. 'The evidence suggests this criminal group stockpiled significant wealth – vehicles, cash, and luxury goods – through the sale of counterfeit items. These assets are now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission,' he said. 'We've commenced proceedings to recover millions of dollars, with the aim of returning that money to the people of NSW. This is a clear example of how financial investigations can strike at the heart of organised crime.' Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS The astonishing story behind this purple Lamborghini seized by NSW police in Sydney
NSW Police have charged three men after uncovering a syndicate allegedly responsible for selling counterfeit luxury goods worth nearly $10million via social media. The arrests follow an extensive investigation under Strike Force Alcova, launched by the State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad Unexplained Wealth Team in collaboration with the NSW Crime Commission. The syndicate is accused of distributing fake designer clothing, watches, shoes, and handbags, while laundering millions in profits through multiple bank accounts. Police allege the group used social media platforms to market and sell the counterfeit items, generating approximately $9.75million in illicit revenue. Police executed three search warrants in in Fairfield East, Merrylands and Guildford. During the raids, officers seized nine vehicles valued at around $3million including a purple Lambo, over 500 counterfeit luxury items, $270,000 in cash, and a gel blaster firearm. Three men were arrested at the respective locations and taken to Granville Police Station. The 30-year-old Fairfield East man faces multiple charges including dealing with proceeds of crime, concealing criminal proceeds, and participating in a criminal group. The 33-year-old Merrylands man was charged with similar offences, while the 30-year-old Guildford man also faces a charge for failing to comply with a digital evidence access order. All three were refused bail and are scheduled to appear in Parramatta Local Court today. Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, Commander of the Organised Crime Squad said the arrests send a strong message to criminal networks. 'We will allege these individuals built a multi-million-dollar empire by deceiving consumers and undermining legitimate businesses,' he said. 'Behind the filters and followers was a sophisticated criminal enterprise exploiting digital platforms to sell counterfeit luxury goods.' NSW Crime Commission Executive Director Darren Bennett praised the operation, highlighting the seizure of tainted assets. 'The evidence suggests this criminal group stockpiled significant wealth through the sale of counterfeit items. These assets are now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission,' he said. 'We've commenced proceedings to recover millions of dollars, with the aim of returning that money to the people of New South Wales.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Over a ton of cocaine worth nearly half a billion dollars seized off Australian coast
Over a ton of cocaine worth close to nearly half a billion dollars has been seized from a boat off the coast of Australia, officials have confirmed. Detectives from the Organised Crime Squad in Australia have charged five people following the seizure of the drugs from a vessel off the New South Wales coast after police there obtained potential intelligence to the drugs following a 'suspicious purchase' of a 43-foot-long motor cruiser paid for by just cash in Sydney's Sutherland Shire on April 28, according to a joint statement from the New South Wales Police Force and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). MORE: 3 climbers dead after falling off mountain while rappelling 'On Friday (9 May 2025), as the vessel travelled back to shore - towards South West Rocks - it was intercepted by the Marine Area Command about 9.30am.,' the statement said. 'Two men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested on board and escorted to shore by the police vessel. They were taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.' Approximately 1,110 blocks of cocaine, weighing 1.039 tons were located on the vessel, police confirmed. MORE: Woman arrested after raccoon named Chewy found with meth pipe in driver's seat during police stop 'The seized cocaine equates to over a million individual hits, with an estimated potential street value of $623.4 million,' (more than $400 million U.S. dollars) police said. Three other people – aged 28, 29 and 35 - were simultaneously arrested on shore after investigators stopped two vehicles attempting to leave the South West Rocks area and they were taken to Taree Police Station. MORE: Parents arrested after their 1-year-old tests positive for fentanyl and THC MORE: Sheila the runaway kangaroo causes car crash, shuts down Alabama highway Forensic specialists are currently examining the seized drugs and will be conducting further testing to determine the exact weight and purity of the drugs. 'The two men at Coffs Harbour were charged with supply prohibited drug - large commercial quantity and participate in criminal group,' Australian officials said. 'The three men at Taree were charged with take part in supply prohibited drug - large commercial quantity and participate in criminal group.' MORE: Funeral director trashed over 6,500 bodies of pets, used fake ashes to defraud customers out of $650,000: Officials All five of the suspects appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday where they were all formally refused bail and mandated to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on July 15, authorities said. 'The AFP and NSW Police Force have a long history of disrupting criminal networks attempting to import drugs that destroy our community. Combining our resources and expertise allows us to get successful outcomes like the one we are announcing today,' AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto said. 'Australia's vast coastline is attractive to organised crime groups, who attempt to exploit this by trying to import drugs using boats. The bad news for them is the AFP will continue to work together with our partners to target organised crime syndicates who wrongly believe they can operate with impunity. NSW Police State Crime Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein said these arrests are testament to how rapidly our policing resources can coordinate and stop significant amounts of drug coming into NSW. MORE: 13-year-old girl dead after 25-foot fall through attic floor at her after-school program 'Whether on land or sea, NSW Police have the investigative capability to disrupt and undermine criminal enterprise,' Weinstein said. "This seizure shows how our continuous monitoring of known organised crime methodologies with industry partners, can be actioned into a successful multi-agency operation with those involved immediately arrested to prevent illicit drugs entering NSW. Our ability to pivot and protect the community is evident in this week's actions. Make no mistake these drugs, if allowed to enter our communities, would have had devastating impacts on people's lives and social cohesion, particularly in regional townships.' Investigations into the origin of the drugs and the group's alleged associates remain ongoing. Over a ton of cocaine worth nearly half a billion dollars seized off Australian coast originally appeared on
13-05-2025
Over a ton of cocaine worth nearly half a billion dollars seized off Australian coast
LONDON -- Over a ton of cocaine worth close to nearly half a billion dollars has been seized from a boat off the coast of Australia, officials have confirmed. Detectives from the Organised Crime Squad in Australia have charged five people following the seizure of the drugs from a vessel off the New South Wales coast after police there obtained potential intelligence to the drugs following a 'suspicious purchase' of a 43-foot-long motor cruiser paid for by just cash in Sydney's Sutherland Shire on April 28, according to a joint statement from the New South Wales Police Force and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). 'On Friday (9 May 2025), as the vessel travelled back to shore - towards South West Rocks - it was intercepted by the Marine Area Command about 9.30am.,' the statement said. 'Two men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested on board and escorted to shore by the police vessel. They were taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.' Approximately 1,110 blocks of cocaine, weighing 1.039 tons were located on the vessel, police confirmed. 'The seized cocaine equates to over a million individual hits, with an estimated potential street value of $623.4 million,' (more than $400 million U.S. dollars) police said. Three other people – aged 28, 29 and 35 - were simultaneously arrested on shore after investigators stopped two vehicles attempting to leave the South West Rocks area and they were taken to Taree Police Station. Forensic specialists are currently examining the seized drugs and will be conducting further testing to determine the exact weight and purity of the drugs. 'The two men at Coffs Harbour were charged with supply prohibited drug - large commercial quantity and participate in criminal group,' Australian officials said. 'The three men at Taree were charged with take part in supply prohibited drug - large commercial quantity and participate in criminal group.' All five of the suspects appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday where they were all formally refused bail and mandated to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on July 15, authorities said. 'The AFP and NSW Police Force have a long history of disrupting criminal networks attempting to import drugs that destroy our community. Combining our resources and expertise allows us to get successful outcomes like the one we are announcing today,' AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto said. 'Australia's vast coastline is attractive to organised crime groups, who attempt to exploit this by trying to import drugs using boats. The bad news for them is the AFP will continue to work together with our partners to target organised crime syndicates who wrongly believe they can operate with impunity. NSW Police State Crime Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein said these arrests are testament to how rapidly our policing resources can coordinate and stop significant amounts of drug coming into NSW. 'Whether on land or sea, NSW Police have the investigative capability to disrupt and undermine criminal enterprise,' Weinstein said. "This seizure shows how our continuous monitoring of known organised crime methodologies with industry partners, can be actioned into a successful multi-agency operation with those involved immediately arrested to prevent illicit drugs entering NSW. Our ability to pivot and protect the community is evident in this week's actions. Make no mistake these drugs, if allowed to enter our communities, would have had devastating impacts on people's lives and social cohesion, particularly in regional townships.'
