A man has been charged over fraud offences totalling almost $4 million relating to the illegal dumping of 17,000 tonnes of restricted waste containing asbestos, NSW Police say.
Strike Force Dothan was established by officers attached to Redfern Police Area Command to investigate anomalies recorded in the removal and disposal of waste, as part of the Green Square Town Centre development.
In August 2016, contractors were engaged as part of the development and were required to remove excavated material which included asbestos and restricted waste that could only be safely disposed of at two Sydney sites.
Police, working with NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), will allege that up to 17,000 tonnes of waste appear to have been dumped or disposed of incorrectly.
As a result of extensive inquiries, about 7pm last Friday (17 August 2018), a 48-year-old man was arrested at Sydney International Airport.
He was taken to Redfern Police Station and charged with 13 counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal, and knowingly direct activities of criminal group.
The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday 18 August 2018. He remains bail refused and is next due to appear at Central Local Court tomorrow (Friday 24 August 2018).
Strike Force Dothan detectives executed search warrants, with the assistance of the NSW EPA, at homes on James Street, Guildford West and Elford Crescent, Merrylands West, on Monday (20 August 2018).
A number of items, including an electronic device was seized during a search warrant at a commercial office on Cooper Street, Smithfield, yesterday (Wednesday 22 August 2018).
Today (Thursday 23 August 2018), detectives – with assistance from Redfern Police Area Command, the Public Order and Riot Squad, Police Rescue, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and NSW EPA – executed a search warrant at a Kemps Creek rural property.
During the search, police seized documents, computers and a quad dog trailer.
NSW EPA Chief Environmental Regulator Mark Gifford said illegal dumping is a serious environmental crime that can cause harm to the community and the environment.
"We take the matter very seriously, especially when asbestos is involved," Mr Gifford said.
"The NSW EPA is pleased to be working alongside NSW Police to investigate the alleged illegal dumping of around 17,000 tonnes of waste material containing asbestos and related fraudulent activity."
Investigations are continuing.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
