Detectives have charged six people – including three real estate agents – following an investigation into the alleged use of rental properties for the cultivation of cannabis, and fraudulent acquisition of COVID-19 rental relief payments.
Between July and August 2021, police dismantled a number of sophisticated hydroponic cannabis set-ups located within homes in the Fairfield area, seizing cannabis with a combined estimated potential street value of $2 million.
Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command subsequently established Strike Force Delbo to investigate the activities of a criminal syndicate involved in the enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis across Sydney's south-west.
Strike force detectives were assisted throughout the investigation by NSW Fair Trading.
As part of ongoing inquiries, police identified several large-scale fraudulent applications submitted under the NSW Government COVID-19 Residential Tenancy Support Package scheme.
Following extensive inquiries, a 52-year-old man was arrested during a vehicle stop at Cecil Hills about 7am yesterday (Wednesday 23 March 2022).
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located and seized $5000 cash and mobile phones.
A short time later, a 44-year-old man was arrested at a home at Bonnyrigg, before officers executed a search warrant at a home at Cecil Hills. Several items were seized for further examination.
Both men were taken to Fairfield Police Station, where the older man – who is a real estate agent – was charged with 10 offences including; knowingly direct activities of criminal group, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity), two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, make false document to obtain financial advantage and use false document to obtain financial advantage.
The younger man was charged with cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity), and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
Both men were refused bail and are due to appear at Fairfield Local Court today (Thursday 24 March 2022).
Later that day, two men – both aged 35 – and a 37-year-old woman were arrested at Fairfield Police Station.
A 35-year-old Middleton Grange man – who is a real estate agent – was charged with nine offences including; participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity), dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, attempt dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and make false document to obtain financial advantage.
A 35-year-old Smithfield man was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and two counts of cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity).
A 37-year-old woman – who is a real estate agent – was charged with eight offences including; participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, make false document to obtain financial advantage and use false document to obtain financial advantage.
All three were refused bail and are due to appear at Fairfield Local Court today (Thursday 24 March 2022).
About 10am, a 23-year-old man was arrested at Marrickville and charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and four counts of cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity). He appeared at Newtown Local Court the same day and was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at Fairfield Local Court on Tuesday 25 May 2022.
Fairfield City Police Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Luke Scott, said several of the syndicate's members allegedly facilitated the frauds by abusing their employment in the real estate industry.
"We will be alleging these people used their position as trusted insiders in the real estate industry to defraud their own clientele and public money meant for those who need it most," Det Insp Scott said.
"The properties that were allegedly utilised by this syndicate to grow cannabis were subleased to members of the public who had no idea their name was on the lease agreement, as was the case when it came to the fraudulently obtained rental relief and bond payments.
"The nature of this fraud is particularly scandalous and predatory; the community won't tolerate it, and those involved now have our court system to answer to," Det Insp Scott said.
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.
