Detectives from the Criminal Proceeds Squad yesterday charged an additional two people following an investigation into significant money laundering by an offshore organised crime syndicate.
A warrant was executed at a Box Hill address on Thursday, 26 January, and another at a Docklands address on Wednesday, 1 February.
A 41-year-old Box Hill man was charged with the Commonwealth offences of dealing with proceeds of crime ($1,000,000+), dealing with property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime, associating in support of serious organised criminal activity, supporting a criminal organisation, committing an offence for the benefit of or at the direction of a criminal organisation, committing an offence at the direction of a criminal organisation, and aiding the commission of an offence by supporting a criminal organisation.
A 27-year-old Docklands man was charged with the Commonwealth offences of two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime ($1,000,000+), dealing with property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime, associating in support of serious organised criminal activity, supporting a criminal organisation, committing an offence for the benefit of or at the direction of a criminal organisation, committing an offence at the direction of a criminal organisation and aiding the commission of an offence by supporting a criminal organisation.
The duo was remanded to face Melbourne Magistrate's Court today.
Yesterday's activity follows a 39-year-old Port Melbourne man and a 31-year-old Melbourne woman being charged with a range of similar Commonwealth offences on Wednesday, 25 January.
The investigation commenced in 2021 when detectives from the Major Drug Squad uncovered an alleged Malaysian money laundering syndicate as part of a separate investigation.
Investigators worked with AUSTRAC to identify offenders, trends and methods used by the syndicate.
Police will allege at least $42M over a five-month period was collected, deposited or channelled in cryptocurrency by the syndicate.
The 39-year-old Port Melbourne man is believed to have been collecting money and depositing it into various bank accounts.
Police have identified over 180 bank accounts belonging to Malaysian nationals which were allegedly bought by the syndicate to use for transferring funds into trading platforms and cryptocurrency.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information on organised crime activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppers.vic.com.auExternal Link
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