Latest news with #organisedCrime
News.com.au
31 minutes ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Crazy': NSW Premier Chris Minns blames tobacco excise for thriving illegal trade
Chris Minns has again slammed the annual tax increase on cigarettes and blamed it for the rise in black market tobacco across the state. The NSW Premier spoke to KIIS radio's Kyle and Jackie O days after he called on the federal government to consider lowering the tobacco excise. He also suggested repurposing police resources from major organised crime networks and domestic violence cases to instead address illegal tobacco sales. 'It's probably not a popular thing for a premier to say because there's been a tax on cigarettes and excise on cigarettes for decades, and I understand that, but they've been radically increased since 2019,' he said on Wednesday. 'So a pack in 2019, 2020, cigarettes had a $16 tax on it. Today it's $28 – a 75 per cent increase. 'This is a crazy thing, that the government used to collect $16bn in revenue and now it's come all the way down to about nine billion. 'It's the only tax in the world, Kyle and Jackie, that they've doubled, and the revenue has declined and all of that money has gone into the black market.' The tax was first introduced in 2010 as an annual 25 per cent increase to reduce smoking rates, and then in 2023 the federal government announced the excise would grow by 5 per cent annually for three years. Mr Minns said most of the illegal tobacco came from overseas, with the explosion of black market cigarettes sending huge amounts of money into the hands of organised crime gangs. The Australian Border Force estimates they control about three-quarters of the trade. 'There's many things I hate about it, but there's two things in particular,' Mr Minns sad. 'Firstly, there's a whole bunch of law-abiding people who go about their lives. They wouldn't break the law in a million years, but they're being dragged into a black market where they go to the store, they can either buy a 17 or $20 packet of illegal cigarettes or a $60 packet of cigarettes. 'It's just a no-brainer for them.' Mr Minns said Health Minister Ryan Park was likely to raise the issue at an upcoming health ministers meeting. 'Every tax and every tax change starts with an idea,' Mr Minns said. 'Every single one of them, someone's saying, 'Look, I don't think this is working, we need to change and so we might as well get the ball rolling here'. 'We have to make a decision because what's happening with these elite illegal tobacco stores is they're pushing out hot bread shops, small businesses, retail stores, they're pushing out restaurants because it's so lucrative they can just take the rent at a higher price.' When asked whether purchasing the illegal tobacco was a crime, Mr Minns said the offence was prior to the sale. 'There's an enormous amount of money now circulating in that black economy that's going to create a whole bunch of other problems,' he said. 'I don't want people to smoke by the way … but we have to be honest about it, realistic about what's going to happen.' Illicit tobacco sales are investigated by NSW Health, with more than 20 compliance officers tasked with managing the tens of thousands of tobacco stores statewide. Cigarette prices in Australia are considered to be one of the highest in the world, according to the World Health Organisation. Taxes account for about three-quarters of the price.
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Mayor demands action after Scots shot dead in Spanish bar
The mayor of Fuengirola has called for more police resources to combat organised crime-related violence on the Costa del Mula said she was demanding action after two Scottish men - Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46, and Ross Monaghan, 43 - were shot dead in a pub on the town's seafront on followed a series of assaults, shootings and firebombings across Glasgow and Edinburgh since March which have resulted in more than 30 detectives are also examining whether the murders are linked to wider tensions between major global crime groups. BBC Scotland News has been told that Eddie Jnr's brother Steven Lyons has links to the Kinahan crime Dubai-based group is wanted by the US government for drugs and firearms trafficking, money laundering and was the focus of a recent BBC documentary series, Kinahan: The True Story of Ireland's have been high among criminal groups in the Costa del Sol since the arrest last November of one of Spain's top police officers.Óscar Sánchez Gil was the head of the fraud and anti-money laundering division of Spain's national police force in Madrid until €20m (£17m) was found hidden in the walls of his house, as part of an investigation into the country's largest-ever cocaine have told BBC Scotland News that the scandal has triggered a number of subsequent drug seizures and it has also increased distrust among crime groups and the ripple effects may be a factor in a recent spate of shootings in the region. The violence has led to a direct appeal from the mayor of Fuengirola following a meeting with officials including the commanders of the national and local Mula said: "We live in a world and at a time where crime knows no borders."In places like the Costa del Sol, we're seeing developments that, as they spread, inevitably affect us."We need much greater involvement from the state on this issue."She also called for the deployment of more police officers who specialise in organised mayor added: "I intend to be relentless in demanding action on this."It's a top priority for our community and our city." Costa del Sol shootings Graphic footage of the aftermath of the shootings in Monaghan's bar was broadcast on Spanish TV on from the bar showed the lone gunman chasing critically-injured Monaghan before he stumbled and fell to the bystanders, thought to be a waitress and another man in black, can be seen running away from the suspect appeared to be wearing a black baseball cap, a black jacket, black shorts and had a white T-shirt round his neck, which he is thought to have used to hide his face before opening indoor lounge bar was deserted at the time but a number of customers, who had been watching the Champions League final, were outside where Lyons Jnr was shot have told BBC Scotland News the murders would have required significant planning and timing, just half an hour before the bar closed, would also have been carefully chosen. The double murder follows the fatal shooting nearly six weeks ago of a 32-year-old British man in nearby Calahonda, a 15-minute drive from was targeted around 20:00 on 21 April in a professional hit as he headed back to his car after playing in a football match with are treating the shooting as drugs-related but have yet to make any victim has not been named but was known to come from at the time described the incident as the fourth shooting so far that month on the Costa del Sol, where rival gangs have increasingly used extreme violence to settle scores and a number of international mafias are known to have a days before the Calahonda shooting, a 34-year-old man was rushed to the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella after being shot outside a nightclub in the famous Costa del Sol is understood detectives will examine the earlier Spanish incidents to see if they can establish any links between these and Saturday's murders.A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: "We are providing support to the families of two British men who died in Fuengirola and are in contact with the local authorities."
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Crypto ATMs increasingly used for scams and money laundering: AUSTRAC
Australians are losing millions of dollars each year to scams linked to cryptocurrency ATMs and older people have been the group most caught up in illicit activity through the machines. Financial crimes agency AUSTRAC has now intervened — introducing sweeping industry-wide controls after uncovering links to scams, money laundering and other illegal activity. The regulator has also refused to renew one crypto ATM (CATM) operator's registration. Cryptocurrency ATMs are located across the country — in petrol stations, convenience stores, supermarkets and takeaway shops. They allow users to convert cash into digital currencies like Bitcoin, which is transferred to a digital wallet. Some machines also let users cash out their cryptocurrency. With banks under growing pressure to crack down on scams and money laundering, authorities warn crypto ATMs are being exploited by criminals. Following a three-month analysis of data from nine crypto ATM operators, AUSTRAC has confirmed the machines are being used for scam and fraud-related transactions. The ABC understands the regulator was able to trace some transactions to scam hotspots in Asia and Europe, as well as groups linked to organised crime. Crypto ATM operators will now face a $5,000 limit on cash deposits and withdrawals, in a effort to limit the financial fallout of scams. AUSTRAC will also enforce enhanced customer due diligence requirements, mandatory scam warnings and more robust transaction monitoring obligations on the operators. The new controls come as fresh data from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) reveals Australians are losing millions of dollars each year to scams involving crypto ATMs. "These conditions are designed to help protect individuals from scams by deterring criminals from directing them to a crypto ATM, as well as to protect businesses from criminal exploitation," AUSTRAC chief executive Brendan Thomas told ABC News. "In light of the risks and harms, we consider it absolutely necessary to ensure the sector meets minimum standards and reduces the criminal misuse of crypto ATMs. "We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these conditions and adjust them if needed." As part of the compliance crackdown, AUSTRAC has refused to renew the registration of Harro's Empires, a small South Australian crypto ATM operator. The company has been ordered to shut down its four machines, after the agency found ongoing risks that its machines could be exploited by criminals. "This action draws a clear line in the sand and serves as a warning to other digital currency exchange providers that aren't meeting their responsibilities under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act," Mr Thomas said. Australians lost $3 million to scams involving crypto ATMs in the 12 months to January, according to reports made to the Australian Cyber Security Centre. Of the 150 reported incidents, the most common scams were investment scams (63), extortion emails (35), and romance scams (24). Most victims were women over 51. However, total losses are likely to be far higher, as many victims do not report these crimes. "Australia is certainly a key target, given we have high levels of savings and wealth," AFP assistant commissioner for cyber command Richard Chin told ABC News. Mr Chin said that once cash is converted into cryptocurrency and sent to a digital wallet, it's nearly impossible to retrieve. The scammer instructed the man to make several bank withdrawals and deposit the money into crypto ATMs. His funds could not be recovered. "That money goes into an elaborate web of global money laundering and ultimately ends up back with the criminal organisations orchestrating these scams and running them at an industrial scale around the world." Australia has the third-highest number of crypto ATMs in the world, behind the United States and Canada — making it the fastest-growing market globally. In 2019, there were just 23 machines nationwide. Today, there are more than 1,800. "The speed of the growth has concerned us," Mr Thomas told ABC News. "We're worried that growth may be based on illicit activity and people being scammed. "We're not only worried about people being victims of scams, we're also concerned about drug purchases and other money laundering activities occurring through cryptocurrency ATMs." AUSTRAC estimates around $275 million flows through these machines each year across roughly 150,000 transactions. The vast majority — around 99 per cent — are cash deposits used to purchase cryptocurrencies, primarily Bitcoin, Tether and Ethereum. Based on its analysis, AUSTRAC believes one in 10 transactions may be linked to illegitimate activity, including drug trafficking, scams, and organised crime. "Cryptocurrency as an industry represents a significant global money laundering risk. "We see eye-watering sums of money moving across borders for drug purchases, and the proceeds are being scammed," Mr Thomas said. The age profile of crypto ATM users has shocked regulators and closely aligns with the demographic most commonly targeted by international scams. People over 50 account for nearly 72 per cent of crypto ATM transactions by value. Those aged between 60 and 70 make up 29 per cent of all transaction value. These findings are echoed by at least one Melbourne petrol station worker, who spoke to the ABC on condition of anonymity. He said he typically sees two or three older people each week depositing cash into the on-site cryptocurrency ATM. Most, he said, are on the phone receiving step-by-step instructions from someone on how to use the machine. Most scam victims are first contacted online. Last year, Robert (whose name we've changed to protect his privacy) unwittingly became a money mule after applying for a work-from-home job he found online. "They sent me a contract to sign — passport, driver's licence, bank account details, the lot," he said. At first, he was asked to perform simple online tasks like writing product reviews. But later, he received instructions to withdraw money deposited by his 'employer' and put it into a crypto ATM. "She told me to take a photo of the ATM when I got there," Robert recalled. "Then she sent back photos with instructions on what buttons to press. I'd never used one of those machines before — it took me about half an hour to figure it out." He was told to open a second account at another bank and over several weeks, he deposited thousands of dollars into a digital wallet through his local crypto ATM. Eventually, his banks flagged the activity. "They said I might have been involved in something fraudulent. I was worried. I'm not that kind of person." Robert reported the incident to the ACCC's Scamwatch, which advised him to cancel all forms of ID and cease contact with the scammers. Crypto ATMs have made international headlines for the wrong reasons. They've been effectively banned in countries like the United Kingdom and Singapore, and are heavily restricted in others. In the US, lawmakers are considering new legislation to regulate the industry. Several lawsuits have already been filed, including one by the state of Iowa, which is suing operators Bitcoin Depot and CoinFlip for $US20 million ($31 million) over scam losses. In Australia, AUSTRAC last year established a dedicated taskforce to investigate the sector and introduced new compliance requirements aimed at stopping misuse. But Mr Thomas acknowledges that regulation hasn't kept pace with the industry's rapid growth. He has called for broader regulation of the cryptocurrency sector to support legitimate operators and protect consumers. "Our taskforce is working to understand the money laundering risks of cryptocurrency in Australia and is collaborating closely with industry to determine the controls we need," he said. Global players such as CoinFlip, Localcoin, ByteFederal and Bitcoin Depot are competing for market share against local players in Australia's booming crypto ATM market. Operators charge users commissions of up to 20 per cent per transaction, in addition to other fees. The industry's peak body, the Digital Economy Council of Australia (DECA), acknowledges some ATMs are being exploited for scams and money laundering. However, DECA chair Paul Derham argued most customers are legitimate traders simply trying to access digital assets in the face of banking restrictions. "One of the challenges Australians face is that if they want to buy crypto, sometimes their banks won't let them. "So they withdraw cash and go to a crypto ATM instead," said Mr Derham, who is also a lawyer representing several global ATM operators. Mr Derham said while there are different views, broadly speaking the industry does not support transaction limits of $5,000. He said there would be additional compliance costs for businesses. Mr Derham said customers may also use multiple CATMs to get around the new conditions. "The industry would prefer to control these thresholds themselves using their own risk based approach — which they are legally required to do anyway. "For example, if a person is considered low risk and has a long history with a CATM provider, they should have a higher threshold." Asked whether the business would remain viable if they could no longer be used for scams and money laundering, Mr Derham said: "No-one's been able to crack the code to stop scams. Even Australia's biggest banks haven't been able to completely eliminate the risk. "The reality is that some scams are being run by highly coordinated international networks — including state-backed actors — who are actively targeting vulnerable people."
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Fall of House of Kinahan? Dubai no longer criminal safe haven after Sean McGovern extradition
Sean McGovern was whisked away from the Special Criminal Court in Dublin's north inner city on Thursday night, destined for a cell in Portlaoise Prison, following his extradition from the UAE . The Republic's only maximum security jail will be his home at least until he goes on trial. The regime in Portlaoise couldn't be much further from the high-roller lifestyle he has enjoyed in the sunshine of Dubai in recent years. His liberty is gone, at least for now; displaced by a dreary life behind high prison walls run on a strict timetable set by prison staff. The State alleges his Dubai lifestyle was derived from organised crime. And in the name of reaching for the top of that world, it is alleged McGovern murdered one man, conspired to murder another, and directed and enhanced the activities of an organised crime group. It will be up to the trial judges of the juryless Special Criminal Court to decide, probably later this year, if McGovern is guilty of any of the five charges, the most serious of which is murder. If convicted of the Kinahan-Hutch feud gun murder of Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan (62) in Clondalkin, Dublin, in 2016 , McGovern would face a mandatory life term of between 20 and 30 years. READ MORE However, he enjoys the presumption of innocence. The charges against him are no more than allegations. At Thursday's evening sitting of the Special Criminal Court, barrister Olan Callanan, for McGovern, said his client was reserving his position in relation to the 'lawfulness of his arrest' and the jurisdiction of the court. The 39-year-old Dubliner – originally from Drimnagh – and father of two is the first alleged member of the Kinahan cartel to be arrested in Dubai. He is also the first Irish person ever extradited to the Republic from UAE, where the authorities have historically been unwilling to co-operate with western countries in law enforcement matters. This is all uncharted legal territory. Asked by the media on Thursday evening what McGovern's extradition may mean for other Irish fugitives based in Dubai, Acting Garda Commissioner Shawna Coxon said his was 'a precedence-setting case'. Though she didn't say, everyone knows that 'precedence' is all about the Dubai-based Kinahans; cartel founder Christy Kinahan snr and his two sons, Daniel and Christopher jnr . Sean McGovern. Photograph: Garda The UAE authorities' willingness to assist Ireland by arresting McGovern in Dubai last year, agreeing to his extradition this week and having since signed a permanent extradition treaty with the Republic appears to clear the way for the Kinahans to follow on. However, one crucial piece of the puzzle is missing. Suspects can only be extradited from one country to another for the purpose of going on trial. And the charges must be serious. Extraditions cannot be sought for the purpose of arresting a suspect for questioning, or to otherwise aid an ongoing inquiry. The investigation into them must be completed, with charges approved by the DPP, as they were in relation to McGovern more than three years ago. At present, no charges have been approved in Ireland, or in any other country, against the Kinahans. That is why they are living openly in Dubai. It is not a case of the authorities, in Dubai or Ireland being unable to find the Kinahans to arrest them. Dubai police know exactly where they are. But no police force has come up with evidence against them strong enough to base serious criminal charges on. Three years have passed since the US joined Ireland's fight against the Kinahans, offering rewards of $5 million for information that would lead to their arrest and conviction. But nothing has emerged to suggest anyone with strong incriminating evidence to offer up has come forward. Against that background, is McGovern's extradition really going to keep the Kinahans awake at night? A number of Garda sources pointed to the fact files had been submitted to the DPP recommending charges against them. The Irish Times revealed almost two years ago that a file had been sent to the DPP for consideration after an investigation into the Kinahans, including for directing organised crime in Ireland. A file is also with the DPP in relation to the 2016 Kinahan-Hutch feud murder of Eddie Hutch . A group of men are under suspicion for a range of offences, from murder to more minor crimes that supported the murder conspiracy. Daniel Kinahan is one of those men. [ DPP directions still awaited on Eddie Hutch snr murder case, coroner's court told Opens in new window ] Many Garda members believe the legality of McGovern's arrest and extradition will be tested in the Special Criminal Court. If the extradition arrangements between UAE and Ireland are put under pressure, and withstand that legal test, the Kinahans will be next, they suggest. It remains to be seen if future events will unfold as neatly as hoped. Former Garda assistant commissioner Michael O'Sullivan said the extradition of McGovern and that of the Kinahans' once Dubai-based close allies demonstrated the UAE was no longer the safe haven it was once regarded. Dutch Moroccan Ridouan Taghi (47) and Italian Raffaele Imperiale (50) were members of the European super cartel, alongside Daniel Kinahan, controlling almost a third of Europe's cocaine market. In recent years they have been extradited or deported from Dubai and jailed in the Netherlands and Italy. [ Kinahan cartel member Sean McGovern charged with murder following extradition from Dubai Opens in new window ] O'Sullivan, the former head of the Garda's drug squad, said the UAE had now undergone a 'change of heart' around its willingness to extradite major criminal figures, under pressure from the US and because it was keen to enhance its global reputation. Although the Kinahans could relocate to other countries with no extradition treaty with Ireland, O'Sullivan wonders how likely, or easy, that would be. 'If the Americans lean on a given country and say 'we want this guy back' ... short of Putin (in Russia), nobody will say 'no, you can't'. And even with Putin ... he has exchanged people in the past.' O'Sullivan points to the case of Viktor Bout , a Russian arms dealer who was jailed in the US in 2011 after conviction on charges, including conspiring to kill US citizens. He has been accused of supplying arms to al-Qaeda, the Taliban and rebels in Rwanda. Sentenced to 25 years in the US in 2011, he was freed in 2022 in exchange for the release of US star basketball player Brittney Griner . She had been arrested in Moscow airport in 2022 when cartridges containing cannabis oil were found in her bag. O'Sullivan said if the Kinahans fled Dubai and relocated to another country, especially one on the fringes of the international community, they could become fodder for an international deal that country may want to put in place, especially with the US, in the next few years. [ Ireland's post-Kinahan drugs trade: Names and faces change but methods remain all too familiar Opens in new window ] 'They're in Dubai for a reason. For them it's been a civilised, wealthy place to do business, and with no extradition. It's western-style, with all the comforts of home and the sunshine. It has everything going for it. What's the next step for the Kinahans, 'let's move to Botswana'? Well, see how they get on with that, bringing your kids up there, what quality of life would you have there?' John O'Brien, a retired Garda detective chief superintendent, was head of the 'international liaison protection section' of the Garda and national head of Interpol and Europol. He believes with the comfort blanket of the UAE's former extradition-shy status now whipped away, and some of their key allies extradited, the Kinahans will 'try to relocate to a friendlier jurisdiction'. 'But there are very few of those places left. Frankly, you'd be talking about a 'narco' state, if any still exist, or something similar. The avenues for them are fairly narrow,' he said. 'Another feature for them in relocating is the assets they have buried in places like Dubai and other locations. You might physically be able to pop on a plane to wherever you want to go. But your control of the money, and your ability to control the empire, would be extremely limited.' But he also stresses that, in order to seek their extradition, investigations must be completed in Ireland to the point where they have a case to answer, relating to serious criminal charges. 'You must have sitting inside that [extradition] process a full case that's strong and that doesn't require any further investigation. That's a high bar.'
ABC News
5 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Men guarding Logan tobacconist seriously burned in 'targeted attack'
Two men are in hospital with serious burns after the tobacconist they were guarding was doused in accelerant and set alight in Logan overnight. Police say the injured men, aged 47 and 54, were working security at the store after multiple threats against the owners. Detective Acting Inspector Daniel Cunningham said the men were found by firefighters at the Browns Plains store shortly after midnight. No arrests have been made. "It appears that at least two offenders have forced entry, once inside they've poured an accelerant around, while pouring that accelerant some of that has splashed on our victims and they have then ignited that accelerant," he said. "We're operating under the assumption there are more than two offenders. Police said they are investigating possible links to organised crime. "The Queensland Police Service has Task Force Masher, which investigates organised crime links to illicit tobacco in Queensland," Detective Acting Inspector Cunningham said. "Detectives from that specialist unit have been engaged and are assisting. "It's our understanding that threats have been made against the business operators and we'll investigate the links." Detective Acting Inspector Cunningham said police had spoken to the store's owners. "Unfortunately, we haven't been able to speak to the victims as they are receiving treatment but when we do have the opportunity to speak to them, we certainly will," he said. "Any level of violence in our community will be treated with the highest level of priority and we will throw additional resources [at this investigation] to locate those responsible. The men are at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a serious but non-life-threatening condition.
