Seven individuals are facing charges related to a purported drug trafficking and international money laundering scheme that is based in New South Wales.
It was purportedly discovered that a 37-year-old Vietnamese guy was transferring substantial quantities of cash to Bitcoin in order to allegedly arrange the delivery of drugs in NSW.
Following six search warrants in Umina Beach, Double Bay, Lane Cove, Parramatta, and Bankstown, five people were taken into custody on Friday morning.
Police say that they “assisted in transporting and laundering money on behalf of the international syndicate.”
During the search, nearly $50,000 in cash, a money counter, cryptocurrency wallets, electronics, drugs, and investigation-related documents were discovered.
Following her arrest, a 64-year-old Lane Cove resident was charged with eight crimes, including seven counts of knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime and joining a criminal organization.
It is stated that she was managing the money laundering syndicate for the Vietnamese male, age thirty-one.
Following his arrest, a 52-year-old Parramatta man was charged with 10 crimes, including nine charges of knowing dealing with the proceeds of crime and joining a criminal organization.
Both will appear in Parramatta Local Court today after being denied bail.
After being taken into custody in Double Bay, two guys, ages 28 and 31, were given separate charges.
Two counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of a crime were brought against the 28-year-old.
The 31-year-old was accused of 14 crimes, 13 of which included involvement in a criminal organization and dealing with the proceeds of crime with knowledge.
They both showed up in court yesterday after being denied bail.
A 33-year-old Bankstown resident was taken into custody after he allegedly attempted to flee from the police.
He faces five charges total, four of which are related to joining a criminal organization and dealing with the proceeds of crime with knowledge.
After his bail was denied, he is scheduled to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
The worldwide syndicate was allegedly used as a conduit for drug money, which led to the arrest of two women.
The Central Coast was the purported hub of the extensive drug trafficking enterprise.
The two men, ages 26 and 27, were taken into custody near Umina Beach and accused of a number of crimes.
The 26-year-old was accused of seven offenses, including two counts of selling illegal substances in a significant commercial quantity, four counts of knowingly engaging with a crime, and two counts of disobeying a digital evidence access order.
The 27-year-old woman was accused of carrying illegal substances, breaking her bond, and supplying drugs in an amount that might be indicted and sold commercially.
Bail was denied to both. The younger woman will appear in court on Saturday, while the elder woman appeared in court on Friday.
Over 300kg of drugs and $2.8 million in cash were confiscated during the investigation, leading to the charging of 12 individuals. As part of the inquiry, fifteen firearms have also been found.
