Police have seized about $580,000 in cash, found in a shopping bag, and charged a Tasmanian man as part of an ongoing joint operation targeting alleged drug distribution syndicates in Tasmania.
The Tasmania Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF), which combines the resources and capabilities of the AFP, Tasmania Police, and Australian Border Force (ABF), launched the investigation which has, so far, led to the cash seizure and charges against the southern Tasmania man.
As part of the operation, Tasmania JOCTF investigators intercepted a southern Tasmanian man, 31, driving his vehicle near Melton Mowbray, on the Midland Highway, on 17 August, 2025. Police executed a search warrant on the man's car and allegedly located a significant amount of cash contained in sealed plastic bags inside a cooler bag.
Authorities seized the cash which was forensically examined and estimated to be about $580,000.
The man faced Hobart Magistrates' Court on 18 August, 2025 charged with:
- One count of dealing with property, more than $100,000 reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 years' imprisonment: and
- One count of failure to comply with a 3LA Order, contrary to section 3LA(5) of the Crimes Act (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
He was bailed to reappear in the Hobart Magistrates' Court on 6 November, 2025.
Last week, police also searched two other addresses in southern Tasmania allegedly linked to the man, where further cash and other items were seized.
The investigation remains ongoing and further arrests have not been ruled out.
AFP Detective Sergeant Nick Gibson said the AFP would continue to investigate how the man came to be in possession of the cash.
"The JOCTF's mission is to prevent organised crime syndicates from infiltrating Tasmania's supply chains and trafficking illicit commodities into Tasmania and elsewhere in Australia," Det-Sgt Gibson said.
"The AFP works closely with partners to protect the community and Australia's legitimate economy and ensure potentially dirty money does not continue to fund future criminal endeavours.
"Criminal networks can use unexplained cash to support other serious criminal activities.
"The message to these criminals is simple, the AFP and our partners won't stop until we have shut down your illegal and harmful activities."
Tasmania Police Crime and Intelligence Command Inspector Troy Morrisby said the cash seizures formed part of an investigation into alleged links to the distribution of illicit drugs.
"Our detectives, working closely with our partners at the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force, used a variety of investigative techniques over a prolonged period during this operation," Inspector Morrisby said.
"This recent seizure of significant sums of money is the result of dedicated police work and, we aim to make further inroads to disrupt the movement of drugs in our community."
