A 49-year old man has discovered firsthand that crime doesn't pay – after a long-running investigation involving the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) resulted in approximately $2.47 million of cash and assets forfeited.
The Koo Wee Rup man was supplying workers to industry as a labour hire intermediary, allowing 62 unlawful non-citizens to work illegally, and 28 non-citizens to work in breach of their visa conditions, at a business south-east of Melbourne.
On 12 April 2021, the man was convicted of offences under the Migration Act and in relation to proceeds of crime worth $100,000 or more, contrary to the Criminal Code. He was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of five months and fined $40,000.
The AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT), obtained restraining orders in December 2018 over the man's property. Following further investigations, the CACT obtained forfeiture orders in the County Court of Victoria forfeiting property including two Melbourne investment properties worth approximately $1.5 million in total, approximately $700,000 in superannuation, approximately $190,000 in cash and a 2015 Mercedes Benz coupe worth approximately $80,000.
ABF Commander James Watson said that the forfeitures, coming on top of the previous convictions, highlighted the very real penalties that applied to people breaking the law in this way.
"This result sends a strong message to the community. If you engage in criminal behaviour under the Migration Act, you can expect to face the full force of the law - which in addition to periods of imprisonment can include the confiscation of assets gained as part of the crime" Commander Watson said.
"We will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute allegations of serious visa and migration fraud, particularly where there is systemic exploitation of foreign workers. And we do this with our law enforcement partners including the AFP," he said.
AFP Commander Criminal Assets Confiscation, Stephen Fry said that the CACT's mandate was to deprive offenders of the proceeds and benefits of their crimes, and to punish and deter them from breaching the law.
"This case demonstrates that the AFP, working jointly with its partner agencies, will relentlessly go after criminally obtained assets to ensure that those who commit crimes are deprived from enjoying the benefits derived from their illicit activities."
The CACT brings together the resources and expertise of the AFP, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Taxation Office, AUSTRAC, and the ABF. These agencies work together to trace, restrain and ultimately confiscate criminal assets with the funds redirected by the Commonwealth Government to crime prevention, law enforcement and other community initiatives.
People with information about suspicious immigration activity should contact Border Watch by going to www.Australia.gov.au/borderwatch. By reporting suspicious activities you help protect Australia's border. Information can be provided anonymously.
