Latest news with #criminalsyndicate
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Two men arrested after shocking discovery inside a Sydney unit block
Two men allegedly involved in a South American crime syndicate have been charged with drug offences after allegedly selling fake cocaine. NSW Police Organised Crime Squad detectives arrested the men, aged 61 and 27, at a unit in North Rocks, Sydney, around 8.15pm on Wednesday. Police allege the group travelled from Spain to Sydney in May and sold fake cocaine to four Sydney-based criminal networks. The group is also believed to have run similar operations in London earlier this year. Footage released by NSW Police captured the moment officers attached to Strike Force Bookara pounded on the door of the unit before forcing entry. During the raid, officers allegedly found ten bricks of a white substance believed to be cocaine, but later confirmed through testing not to be. Police claim the syndicate sold the fake product to other criminal groups for $90,000 per kilogram. Police also seized $121,000 in Australian cash, foreign currency, 14 mobile phones, multiple SIM cards, bank cards, and documents related to foreign currency and cryptocurrency transfers. Photos released by police show plastic-wrapped bundles of cash and white powder bricks seized from the unit. Another image shows five people with blurred faces sitting on black leather couches around a glass coffee table during the raid. All five were taken to Parramatta Police Station, where the two men were charged with supplying a prohibited drug in both small and large commercial quantities. They were refused bail and are due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Friday. The other three were released and are pending further investigation. Anyone with information that could assist police with inquiries into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Singapore, Malaysia police team up to break up illegal horse betting syndicate
SINGAPORE, June 13 — A joint enforcement effort by Singapore and Malaysian police has led to the arrest of 16 people and ongoing investigations into 41 others for their alleged roles in an illegal horse betting syndicate. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a June 12 statement that those arrested — aged between 50 and 78 — are believed to be linked to a criminal syndicate involved in unlawful betting operations. The cross-border operation, carried out on June 11, saw simultaneous raids across Singapore and one in Malaysia. In Singapore, officers from the SPF's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Special Operations Command raided multiple sites, arresting 14 men and one woman. Items seized included cash, mobile phones, gambling paraphernalia, and three bank accounts holding about US$200,000 (RM662,000) suspected to be criminal proceeds. In Malaysia, a 53-year-old Singaporean man was arrested during a raid led by the Royal Malaysia Police's (RMP) CID. He is scheduled to be charged in court on June 13 under the Gambling Control Act. Meanwhile, another 40 men and a woman — aged between 47 and 84 — are being investigated for suspected involvement in illegal betting. Police believe the individuals took on roles as bookmakers, runners, or punters. The SPF conducted checks across various neighbourhoods including King George's Avenue, Jurong Street 24, Ang Mo Kio Street 22, New Upper Changi Road, Yung Sheng Road, Bukit Batok Street 31 and Marsiling Road. Officers seized over US$17,000 in cash, along with mobile phones and betting-related materials during these operations. Under the Gambling Control Act, individuals found guilty of gambling with an unlawful service provider face fines of up to US$10,000, jail time of up to six months, or both. Operators of such illegal betting services can be fined up to US$500,000 and jailed for up to seven years. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation and Intelligence) Zhang Weihan, who also heads the CID, said: 'The police take a serious view of all forms of illegal betting activities and work with counterparts such as the RMP to find criminal syndicates.' He also extended appreciation to Malaysian authorities, saying: 'I would like to thank Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, director of the Criminal Investigation Department of RMP, and his officers for their strong support and commitment in tackling transnational organised criminal groups.' Zhang added that the SPF will continue to partner international agencies 'to detect and dismantle criminal syndicates wherever they choose to operate'.
South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong police smash cross-border syndicate that laundered HK$118 million
Hong Kong police have dismantled a cross-border syndicate that laundered HK$118 million (US$15 million) through stooge bank accounts, arresting 12 people as officials seek tougher sentencing for those renting or selling their personal bank details. Advertisement In an operation conducted by the commercial crime bureau, police arrested nine men and three women aged between 20 and 40 across multiple districts on Thursday, seizing HK$1.05 million in cash, more than 560 ATM cards, numerous mobile phones and bank documents. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Fraud-related cases have been on the rise in Hong Kong. Last year alone, nearly 95,000 criminal cases were recorded, with fraud accounting for almost half. Close to 10,000 people were arrested in connection with fraud last year, with 73 per cent identified as holders of 'shell accounts' used to facilitate illegal activities. Superintendent Shirley Kwok Ching-yee said investigations revealed that the local money laundering syndicate had been actively recruiting mainland Chinese individuals since July last year to open shell accounts in both traditional and digital banks in Hong Kong. 'These accounts were allegedly used to receive illicit proceeds from various fraud schemes,' she said. Advertisement 'These people were also arranged to use other bank cards to withdraw cash and then transport the funds to some virtual asset exchange stores to convert them into cryptocurrency as a means of laundering money.' Chief Inspector Lo Yuen-shan said among the arrested were two key local members of the syndicate and 10 mainlanders who acted as the shell account holders.
