Money, luxurious watches and virtually $7M value of illicit tobacco seized linked to organised crime

Two males have been arrested and over $7.2M value of illicit tobacco, excessive finish watches and money have been seized as a part of an investigation into alleged cash laundering linked to an organised crime syndicate concerned within the sale of illicit tobacco.

Detectives from the Criminal Proceeds Squad and Taskforce Lunar, with help from the ABF, executed warrants yesterday morning (Thursday 21 August) at two residential premises in Dallas and a enterprise tackle in Epping.

A 40-year-old Dallas man was arrested and is anticipated to be charged on summons with possession of business amount illicit tobacco and knowingly cope with the proceeds of crime.

Police seized over $1.9M value of illicit tobacco – together with over 475,400 cigarettes and 624kgs of unfastened leaf tobacco – roughly $80,000 money, six high-end watches value over $119K and a variety of digital units.

The watches included a Breitling, Franck Mueller and 4 Rolex.

The investigation by the Criminal Proceeds Squad commenced in January this 12 months after police grew to become conscious an organised crime syndicate was conducting a variety of money drops and collects at a Somerton meals enterprise.

Detectives additionally recognized that additional transactions have been happening at a manufacturing unit in Epping.

It will probably be alleged these transactions have been for the aim of laundering cash obtained by means of the sale of illicit items together with tobacco and that the enterprise proprietor acquired a fee on every transaction.

It’s believed over $83M money has been allegedly laundered throughout transactions since May 2021.

Victoria Police additionally labored carefully with AUSTRAC and the ABF throughout this investigation.

As a part of a separate investigation, detectives from the Illicit Firearms Squad executed a warrant at a Campbellfield tackle yesterday morning.

A 34-year-old Campbellfield man was arrested and is anticipated to be charged on summons with possession of business amount illicit tobacco and knowingly cope with the proceeds of crime.

Police will allege the person was intercepted driving a truck in Laverton North yesterday which contained in extra of 4 million cigarettes value an estimated $5M.

$100K in money was seized from his Campbellfield tackle.

Investigators recognized that the person attended the identical Somerton enterprise linked to the Criminal Proceeds Squad’s cash laundering investigation and consider he has hyperlinks to the organised crime syndicate concerned in that matter.

Both investigations stay ongoing.

Anyone with data is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report on-line at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Graham Banks, Taskforce Lunar:

“These investigations highlight the significant broader criminality that these serious and organised crime groups are engaged in.

“We are never talking about just illicit tobacco – this offending consistently goes hand in hand with other serious and violent crime. That could be money laundering and illicit firearms, which we’ve seen in these investigations, or the arson attacks and extortions we’ve seen play out across the state.

“Regardless of what form that criminality takes place, it will be targeted by police and we will use every opportunity possible to try and dismantle these syndicates.

“The offending in both of the linked investigations is not insignificant and has no doubt brought harm to the community in a number of ways. For example, this money is undoubtedly funding further violent crimes committed by those involved in this syndicate.

“I think the public deserve to feel outraged that these criminals are reaping millions of dollars at the cost of community safety, and for that reason today’s result is incredibly satisfying.

“This investigation also received significant support from a range of other agencies, in particular AUSTRAC, and that’s testament to the importance of agencies working collaboratively and sharing intelligence to bring these crime syndicates down.”

Media Unit
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