PLEASE NOTE: NSWPF-branded footage of the Umina Beach arrests are available via Hightail – https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/mAzjRHpZKa
The NSW Police Force Organised Crime Squad have charged seven people during an investigation into money laundering and large-scale drug supply under Operation Phobetor-Enyo and Strike Force Glenfern.
Operation Phobetor-Enyo was established in 2022 as a joint squad combining the NSW Police Force (NSWPF), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), and NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC).
Through inquiries under Operation Phobetor-Enyo, a 37-year-old man in Vietnam was identified as allegedly running a money laundering syndicate in New South Wales, which converted large amounts of cash to cryptocurrency on behalf of Organised Crime Groups involved in drug supply.
A number of subsequent investigations were established to target the syndicate's various branches identified within New South Wales under Strike Force Spartan.
To date, detectives have charged 12 people and seized approximately 300kg of prohibited drugs, $2.8 million in cash, and 15 firearms over the course of the operation.
About 6.30am yesterday (Friday 19 October 2023), State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad detectives executed six search warrants across Umina Beach, Double Bay, Lane Cove, Parramatta, and Bankstown.
In Lane Cove, police arrested a 64-year-old woman who was taken to Chatswood Police Station, where she was charged with eight offences, including seven counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and participate in criminal group.
Police will allege in court the 64-year-old woman coordinated the money laundering syndicate in New South Wales on behalf of the man offshore.
At the Parramatta address, detectives arrested a 52-year-old man who was taken to Merrylands Police Station, where he was charged with ten offences, including nine counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and one count of participate criminal group.
They were both refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 21 October 2023).
In Double Bay, strike force detectives arrested two men, aged 28 and 31. They were taken to Waverley Police Station, where the younger man was charged with two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
The older man was charged with 14 offences, including 13 counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and participate in a criminal group.
They were both refused bail and appeared at Waverley Local Court yesterday.
A 33-year-old was arrested in Bankstown after allegedly trying to flee from police. He was taken to Auburn Police Station, where he was charged with five offences including four counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and participate in criminal group.
He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court today.
Police will allege these men assisted in transporting and laundering money on behalf of the international syndicate.
Organised Crime Squad detectives subsequently established Strike Force Glenfern when they uncovered a large-scale drug operation being run on the Central Coast, due to drug money allegedly being laundered through the offshore syndicate.
Two women – aged 26 and 27 – were arrested in Umina Beach and taken to Gosford Police Station, where the younger woman was charged with seven offences, including four counts knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, two counts supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity, and fail to comply with digital evidence access order direction.
She was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today.
The older woman was charged with supply prohibited drug >indictable &
She was refused bail and appeared before Gosford Local Court yesterday.
During the various search warrants, officers seized approximately $50,000 in cash, a money counter, cryptocurrency wallets, electronics, a small amount of drugs, and documentation relevant to their investigation.
All the items were seized to undergo further forensic examination.
Investigations under Operation Phobetor-Enyo and Strike Force Glenfern continue.
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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