By Neeraj Nanda
Melbourne, 26 September: Australia and India have disrupted ‘a sophisticated transnational money laundering network’ operating between the two countries on 25 September. It resulted in 13 search warrants being conducted across Australia, with a further nine search warrants conducted by the Indian Enforcement Directorate (IED) in India.
“The joint investigation involved members from the Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) Operation Zanella, Australian Crime Commission (ACC), South Australian Police (SAPOL) and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), in addition to the work undertaken by the IED”, says a Australian Federal Police media release.
A 39-year-old man from Ingle Farm, South Australia, was arrested and charged with dealing in proceeds of crime and a 41-year-old man from Tapping, Western Australia was arrested and charged for dealing in property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
“It will be alleged the joint investigation has identified an extensive international Alternative Remittance Services (ARS) network involved in laundering millions of dollars out of Australia on behalf of serious and organised crime. The ARS network is alleged to have used Australian bank accounts, corporate structures and complicit remitting agents to facilitate their illegal laundering activities” the media release says.
The Director of IED commended the active close cooperation of the Australian authorities in dismantling an important international money laundering structure.
“In ongoing bilateral cooperation between the Enforcement Directorate and the Australian Federal Police, a major crackdown was successfully made in Amritsar and Delhi on a suspected hawala and money laundering syndicate linked with narcotic drugs proceeds of crime,” he said.
The investigation is ongoing and police have not ruled out further search warrants and arrests.
– SAT News Service
