A 'cash courier' has been sentenced to four months' imprisonment for possessing $33,300 of suspected illicit money, which was found in his luggage at Perth Airport in August, 2025.
The money seized from the 40-year-old was among more than $3.2 million of suspected proceeds of crime that the AFP seized from travellers at Perth Airport in 2025.
The man, a West Australian resident, was sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court last week (16 January, 2026) after previously pleading guilty to possessing money reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime and possessing methamphetamine.
The AFP charged him on 12 August, 2025, after he was stopped at Perth Airport that morning ahead of a flight interstate.
The man had intended to travel to Sydney via Melbourne but while he was checking in for his flight, it came to the attention of airline staff he was in possession of a large amount of cash.
The staff reported the suspicious behaviour to the AFP. Subsequent AFP investigations located the cash and a small amount of methamphetamine in his bag.
The AFP charged the man after he was unable to provide sufficient evidence about the lawful source of the money.
The man was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for possessing the suspected proceeds of crime and one month of imprisonment for possessing a controlled drug.
The magistrate ordered the sentences to be served cumulatively and directed the seized money to be forfeited to the Commonwealth under the Proceeds of Crimes Act 2002 (Cth).
AFP Detective acting Inspector Fleur Jennings said criminal groups might think the rising number of travellers through Australian airports provided them with greater anonymity, but they would be wrong.
"The AFP works closely with our partners to protect the community and Australia's legitimate economy, and ensure air travel is not used as part of the criminal supply chain," Det a/Insp Jennings said.
"In this matter, vigilant airline staff quickly alerted the AFP about their suspicions, which enabled us to intervene before the flight departed.
"Anyone detected travelling with large amounts of unexplained cash will be investigated to determine whether the source of those funds is lawful.
"The AFP seized more than $3.2 million of suspected proceeds of crime at Perth Airport alone last year. Charges have been laid in relation to multiple seizures.
"We ask airport staff and passengers to report any suspicious activity at designated Australian airports to Airport Watch at 131 237.
"All criminal activity at airports and on flights is a threat to the community."
The AFP has uniformed officers, specialist officers and AFP detection dogs working visibly in airport terminals and behind the scenes 24 hours a day, seven days a week to prevent crime and ensure the safety of those inside the precinct or on flights.
Other 2025 case studies:
February: NSW man charged after the AFP seized about $1.1m from a suitcase at Perth Airport: https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/11-million-seized-perth-airport-nsw-man-charged-following-money
June: Pakistani national charged after about $100,000 was allegedly found in his suitcase: https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/foreign-national-charged-following-significant-cash-seizure-perth-airport
December: NSW woman charged after about $312,000 was allegedly found in her luggage https: https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/nsw-woman-charged-following-significant-cash-seizure-perth-airport#:~:text=A%20New%20South%20Wales%20woman,on%20a%20flight%20to%20NSW.
Where to report suspicious or criminal activity at airports
Contact Airport Watch on 131 237 (131 AFP) immediately if you see, or hear, something suspicious at Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney airports.
Report concerns about possible signs of terrorism, or threats to national security, to the National Security Hotline (HSN) on 1800 123 400. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you see suspicious behaviour at a regional airport, or an airport without a police presence, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If you are in an emergency or life-threatening situation, contact Triple Zero (000) immediately.
