Two Umina women have been charged as part of an investigation into an international money laundering syndicate.
The NSW Police Force Organised Crime Squad has 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, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and NSW Crime Commission.
Through inquiries under Operation Phobetor-Enyo, a 37-year-old man in Vietnam was identified as allegedly running a money laundering syndicate in NSW, 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 NSW under Strike Force Spartan.
To date, detectives have charged 12 people and seized about 300kg of prohibited drugs, $2.8M in cash and 15 firearms over the course of the operation.
At about 6.30am on Friday, October 20, 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 they allege co-ordinated the money laundering syndicate in NSW on behalf of the man offshore.
Other arrests included a 52-year-old man at Parramatta, two men aged 28 and 31 at Double Bay and a 33-year-old male at Bankstown who all were refused bail until court appearances.
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 at 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 greater than or equal to large commercial quantity, and fail to comply with digital evidence access order direction.
She was refused bail.
The 27-year-old woman was charged with supply prohibited drug, indictable and commercial quantity, possess prohibited drug and breach of bail.
She also was refused bail until a court appearance.
During the various search warrants, officers seized about $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 online at nsw.crimestoppers.com.au
Source:
NSW Police