Proceeds of Crime Squad – Meth Money Team detectives have charged four people and seized $770,385 cash as part of an investigation into a Vietnamese Established Criminal Network.
An investigation into the suspected criminal activity of the Established Criminal Network resulted in a search warrant being executed on Friday 28 February 2020, at a residence in Clarke Street, East Cannington, by detectives from Proceeds of Crime Squad and Organised Crime Squad. It will be alleged $770,385 cash and 60 Cannabis plants were located.
Four people present at the time of the search warrant were charged with the following offences:
– In relation to $261,140 cash found inside a suitcase located in a bedroom, and other smaller amounts of cash, a 35-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man, both from East Cannington, have been charged with ‘Possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property’. They are both next due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday 2 June 2020. They have also both been charged with ‘Fail to Obey Data Access Order’ and are due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday 8 April 2020.
– In relation to $499,500 cash found in a suitcase in a bedroom, and other smaller amount cash, a 28-year-old woman from New South Wales has been charged with ‘Laundering Property/Money from Proceeds of Major Offence’. She has also been charged with a further nine counts of that offence in relation to nine cash deposits made at banks between 17 January 2020 and 20 January 2020, with each deposit ranging from $5,000 and $10,000. She is next due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday 4 June 2020.
– In relation to $4,054 cash and 60 Cannabis plants located at the residence, a 43-year-old man from East Cannington has been charged with ‘Possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property’ and ‘Cultivate a prohibited plant with intent to sell or supply. He is next due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday 28 April 2020. He also been charged with Possess a Prohibited Drug (Cannabis) and Fail to Obey a Data Access Order. He is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on those charges on Tuesday 31 March 2020 and Wednesday 8 April 2020, respectively.
It will be further alleged the $499,500 cash that was located in the residence had been given to the 28-year-old woman by a 28-year-old man from Como. He has been charged with ‘Laundering Property/Money from Proceeds of Major Offence’ and is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday 8 April 2020.
Detective Senior Constable Brody VAN NIEUWBURG from the Proceeds of Crime Squad said the evidence identified to date shows a well-planned and coordinated established criminal network was in operation.
“Money laundering is pivotal to organised crime activity. Those in charge of criminal networks rely on launderers to realise profits from the sale of illicit goods, normally drugs. This money is then used to finance the purchase or manufacture of more illicit substances which are once again sold back into the community. The cycle of organised crime relies heavily on money laundering to exist.
“Through operations like this we are able to remove those profits, dismantle established networks and establish new intelligence and lines of investigation for our national and international intelligence and law enforcement partners. This work enables us to continue to combat serious crime both within and outside our borders.”
