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Four Queenslanders have been charged with allegedly smuggling cash across the country in an elaborate money laundering scheme.
4 Queenslanders charged in alleged money laundering scheme
11 June 2025
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10 minute read
An 18-month-long, multi-agency investigation has resulted in the charging of four people for their alleged involvement in smuggling cash across Australia and washing millions of dollars of criminal proceeds.
Those arrested for their alleged involvement in the scheme included two Brisbane men, a 32-year-old and a 58-year-old, as well as a 48-year-old Gold Coast man and a 35-year-old Gold Coast woman.
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Seventy members from the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (QJOCTF) made up of the Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police Service, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC and the ATO, were involved in the investigation.
In a joint statement, the taskforce said it executed 14 search warrants at homes and businesses across Brisbane and the Gold Coast on 5 and 6 June 2025.
From the four people charged for their alleged involvement in the investigation, the 32-year-old Brisbane man from Heathwood was allegedly a major client of the money laundering operation and washed $9.5 million over 15 months.
The 32-year-old was charged on 5 June with money laundering and failing to provide the password to a mobile phone, before he was remanded in custody and faced the Brisbane Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The man was charged with one count of dealing with proceeds of crime, worth $1 million or more, contrary to section 400.3(2B) of the Criminal Code and one count of failure to comply with a 3LA Order, contrary to section 3LA(5) of the Crimes Act.
Before the charges for the man’s alleged involvement in the scheme, the QJOCTF began investigating suspicious financial transactions which linked the man to a company that had received millions of dollars transferred by suspicious third-party transactions.
According to the statement, investigators followed the money trail, which allegedly identified the man as a customer of a sophisticated money laundering operation allegedly being run through the armoured transport unit of a security company that transferred $190 million in cash into cryptocurrency, with investigations into this ongoing.
The investigation also led to a 48-year-old Gold Coast man and a 35-year-old Gold Coast woman, who were the director and general manager of the security company, to be charged on 6 June with a money laundering offence, yet were granted watchhouse bail and were scheduled to face Southport Magistrates Court on 21 July 2025.
The man was charged with one count of dealing with the proceeds of general crime, worth $10 million or more, contrary to section 400.2B(6) of the Criminal Code and the woman was charged with one count of dealing with the proceeds of general crime, worth $10 million or more, contrary to section 400.2B(3) of the Criminal Code.
Another Brisbane man, aged 58 from West End, allegedly funnelled laundered money through a business account to a separate business account controlled by the Heathwood man and was also charged on 6 June with two money laundering offences.
The West End man was granted watchhouse bail and was scheduled to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on 1 August 2025 and was charged with two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime, money or property worth $1 million or more, contrary to section 400.3(2B) of the Criminal Code, one count of uttering a forged document, contrary to section 488(1)(B) of the Criminal Code (Qld) and one count of dealing with identification information to commit or facilitate an indictable offence, contrary to section 408D of the Criminal Code (Qld).
Adrian Telfer, AFP detective superintendent, said money laundering undermined Australia’s national security, the economy and social security system.
“Many Australians are feeling the financial pinch but remain law-abiding and honest citizens. Criminals always choose greed over decency and will constantly find opportunities to increase their wealth at the expense of others,” he said.
“We allege this organisation intentionally concealed and disguised the source, value and nature of their illicit money, and distanced themselves from the funds to try to avoid getting caught by authorities. The plot was elaborate and calculated, and it demonstrates the lengths criminals will go to make money.”
The QJOCTF alleged the Gold Coast-based security company used a complex network of bank accounts, businesses, couriers and cryptocurrency accounts to launder millions of dollars of illicit funds over 18 months.
“The security company, which transferred cash between businesses and banks, allegedly mixed cash from its legitimate business arm with illicit finds deposited by suspected criminals,” QJOCTF said.
“To further obfuscate the source of the funds from law enforcement, the security company allegedly channelled the money through a web of transactions including through a sales promotion company, a classic car dealership and cryptocurrency exchange services. The organisation then paid out the funds to beneficiaries using cryptocurrency or those third-party companies.”
Within the investigation, the QJOCTF said it would allege the Heathwood man attempted to distance himself from the money laundering scheme by setting his wife up as a ‘straw director’ while he maintained control, while the West End man was alleged to be the director of a classic car dealership that received about $6.4 million from the security company and laundered it through his business for 17 months.
The director of the security company then allegedly opened several bank accounts across different banks to conceal the source of money as it was moved around.
QJOCTF said the illicit money was then allegedly mixed with legitimate money from the car dealership before being transferred to the sales promotions business. In addition to this, it was alleged that the security company was also “front of the movement” of millions of dollars of illicit cash from other states to South-East Queensland for laundering.
Troy Sokoloff, ABF acting commander, praised the efforts of the taskforce in this case.
“Today’s outcome sends a formidable message to those who seek to engage in criminal money laundering. This act is illegal and unacceptable, and all branches of law enforcement can and will work together to bring such crimes to justice.”
“This type of illegal activity is insidious, and the ABF will continue to work hand in hand with its partners to detect and deter such schemes.”
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