Financial Crimes Squad detectives have charged three men and conducted a compliance operation at Sydney Airport as part of an investigation into a fraudulent e-tag scheme worth over $2.2 million.
Strike Force Aratula was established by State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad in January 2024 to investigate an organised criminal network allegedly selling e-tags linked to falsified payment methods, such as fraudulent credit cards, obtained on the dark web.
Police identified the scheme had been in operation for up to five years, with 800 tags in circulation – the majority having been sold to taxi drivers.
Following extensive inquiries, from about 5am yesterday (Tuesday 28 May 2024), strike force detectives – with assistance from the Cybercrime Squad and Public Order & Riot Squad – executed four search warrants in Smithfield, Blacktown, Punchbowl and Granville.
A 37-year-old man was arrested in Smithfield and taken to Fairfield Police Station, where he was charged with 204 fraud-related offences, dealing with the proceeds of crime, and participate in a criminal group.
The man was refused bail to appear in Fairfield Local Court today (Wednesday 29 May 2024).
In Blacktown, police arrested a 38-year-old man. He was taken to Blacktown Police Station, where he was charged with 32 fraud-related offences, accessory before the fact of dealing with proceeds of crime, and participate in a criminal group.
The man was refused bail and appeared at Blacktown Local Court yesterday.
In Punchbowl, police arrested a 28-year-old man. He was taken to Campsie Police Station, where he was charged with 35 fraud-related offences, and participate in a criminal group.
The man was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court today.
During the searches, police located and seized 74 e-tags, numerous toll notices, electronic devices, $25,000 in cash, and a 2019 Mercedes AMG coupe. While police were executing the search warrant at the Granville address, a delivery of fraudulently purchased e-tags arrived.
Police will allege in court the syndicate harvested up to 10,000 compromised identities and banking details – which were linked to the tags – from an international website for approximately $150,000.
Following the arrests, detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad, Transport for NSW, Transurban, the NSW Point to Point Transport Commissioner and the Sydney Airport Authority – conducted a compliance operation at a taxi marshalling area at Sydney Airport's domestic terminal.
During the operation, police spoke to 200 taxi drivers, and confiscated 12 e-tags believed to be a part of the fraudulent scheme.
The drivers identified with a fraudulent tag were spoken to and released pending further inquiries.
Commander of State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad, Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja, said this investigation is standing up for the honest people of our state who do the right thing.
"This investigation is about holding the alleged members of this syndicate accountable," Det Supt Arbinja said.
"Those, who are not only profiting from this scheme, but exploiting innocent people's identities and credit card details to fund their fraud."
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.
