Tasmania Police and the Tasmania Joint Organised Crime Task Force (TAS JOCTF) have seized about $1,940,000 in cash and charged seven men for their alleged roles in an illicit drug trafficking syndicate.
The TAS JOCTF is a multi-agency taskforce between Tasmania Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force.
Six Tasmanian men and a Queensland man, who range in age from 31 to 57, have been charged after an eight-month investigation into an alleged organised crime network trafficking border-controlled drugs into and within Tasmania.
A man, 31, from Chigwell, who was allegedly working as an illicit cash courier, was arrested on 17 August, 2025, when police stopped the car he was driving in Melton Mowbray.
Investigators located more than $580,000 cash on the passenger seat of the vehicle. He allegedly refused to provide officers access to his mobile phone, which was also seized.
Later that night, investigators executed search warrants at homes in Chigwell and Brighton, seizing a further $59,000.
The 31-year-old Chigwell man was charged with:
One count of dealing with the proceeds of crime - money or property worth $100,000 or more - contrary to section 400.9(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is three years' imprisonment; and
One count of fail to comply with an order under section 3LA(2) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), contrary to section 3LA(6) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth). The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
He is next scheduled to appear in Hobart Magistrates Court on 24 March, 2026.
In September, a Mayfield man, 57, was charged after a random breath test led to a search of his vehicle. Police located a cardboard box containing more than $1,000,000 in cash.
The man was charged with one count of dealing with the proceeds of crime, contrary to section 66A(3) of the Crime (Confiscation of Profits) Act (TAS). The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
He is scheduled to next appear at Hobart Magistrates Court on 20 January, 2026.
On 18 September, 2025, the TAS JOCTF executed a search warrant at a North Hobart hotel, where investigators seized 4.5kg of cocaine, a silver bar and approximately $300,000 in cash.
Evidence from that property allegedly led police to a business premises in New Town, where a further two bars of silver and 3kg of cocaine were seized.
A Queensland man, 51, who was staying at the hotel, was charged with:
One count of trafficking in a controlled substance, contrary to section 12.1 of the Misuse of Drugs Act (TAS). The maximum penalty for the offence is 21 years' imprisonment; and
One count of dealing with proceeds of crime, contrary to section 66(a)(1) of the Crimes (Confiscation of Profits) Act 1993 (TAS). The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
The man was remanded in custody and is scheduled to next to appear at Hobart Magistrates Court today (21 November, 2025).
As a result of investigations, TAS JOCTF executed further warrants on 12 November, 2025, at homes in Bridgewater and Glenorchy and on 13 November, 2025, at a home in Brighton.
Two men, aged 34 and 32, were charged with one count each of trafficking in a controlled substance, contrary to section 12.1 of the Misuse of Drugs Act (TAS). The maximum penalty for the offence is 21 years' imprisonment.
They are next scheduled to appear in Hobart Magistrates Court on 13 January, 2026, and 20 April, 2026, respectively.
A Brighton man, 39, who police will allege is a senior member of a drug trafficking syndicate, was also arrested.
He was charged with:
One count of dealing with property reasonably suspected of being the proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.9(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is three years' imprisonment;
One count of dealing with property reasonably suspected of being the proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.9(1A) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is two years' imprisonment; and
One count of fail to comply with an order under section 3LA(2) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), contrary to section 3LA(6) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth). The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
He is next scheduled to appear in Hobart Magistrates Court on 24 March, 2026.
Also on 13 November 2025, TAS JOCTF located and charged a further man, 34, with one count of dealing with property reasonably suspected of being the proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.9(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is three years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Sergeant Dannii Campbell said the JOCTF's goal was to prevent organised crime syndicates from trafficking illicit drugs in Tasmania and disrupt their supply chains across the country.
"These criminals cause untold pain and suffering when they bring illicit drugs into our community," Det-Act-Sgt Campbell said.
"The TAS JOCTF is committed to keeping our communities safe and we are working tirelessly to disrupt criminals who are preying on people to satisfy their own financial greed.
"The combined resources of the JOCTF should send a warning to organised crime networks that we are unwavering in our determination to stop them exploiting our communities and nowhere is safe for them to hide.
"We will take your cash and drugs and dismantle your operations."
Tasmania Police Detective Acting Inspector Leah Adams said positive working relationships with partners within the TAS JOCTF had allowed it to achieve the results over the past eight months.
"We will continue to investigate illicit drugs and drug trafficking within Tasmania and focus on those bringing drugs into our state," she said.
Anyone with information on the production and distribution of illicit drugs can contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au
