PLEASE NOTE: Images of the items seized are available via Hightail – https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/Qaxdt3jjji/
Cybercrime Squad detectives have charged a man and seized approximately $1 million of cryptocurrency, $1 million worth of watches and jewellery and a car under Strike Force Carieville.
Strike Force Carieville was established by State Crime Command's Cybercrime Squad – with assistance from the NSW Crime Commission – to investigate a vendor on the dark net who is believed to have sold over $80 million worth of prohibited drugs in the last six years.
Following extensive inquiries, about 10pm on Tuesday 9 January 2024, strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed two search warrants in Sydney's CBD where they arrested a 36-year-old man.
A third search warrant was executed on Wednesday 10 January 2024 also in the Sydney CBD.
During the searches, detectives located 14.6 bitcoin worth approximately $1,020,742, $8735 in cash (AUD) and $7800 (USD).
Detectives also located luxury watches and jewellery worth over $1 million and a number of electronics. All items were seized to undergo further forensic examination.
The man was taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, three counts of deal with property proceeds of crime indictable &
He was refused bail and appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 10 January 2024, where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Thursday 7 March 2024.
Police will allege in court the man laundered nearly $3 million on behalf of the dark net vendor.
Commander of State Crime Command's Cybercrime Squad, Detective Superintendent Matthew Craft, said detectives have some of the best capabilities to investigate matters such as these.
"Cybercrime detectives have a strong presence on the dark net to identify and ultimately prosecute anyone engaging in illicit activity," Det Supt Craft said.
"The $1 million worth of crypto seized this week is one of the largest single seizures of crypto in recent years."
"Working alongside partner agencies, such as the NSW Crime Commission, we're aggressive in our search and seizure capabilities – and to those who think they can hide on the dark web or hide their assets in cryptocurrency – those things are no longer barriers for us.
"I'd also like to remind the public that buying drugs on the dark web comes with a huge risk, not only because it is completely illegal, but because you don't know who you're dealing with and whether your product is what it says it is."
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
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