A 61-year-old man is one of four people charged by WA Police over the seizure of 4kgs of methylamphetamine and close to $9 million dollars in cash as part of an ongoing operation targeting illicit commodities being moved across the state border.
Last month, detectives from WA Police Force’s Serious and Organised Crime Division, with assistance from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission identified several vehicles of interest crossing the border into Western Australia.
With the assistance of detectives from the Gang Crime Squad and Drug & Firearm Squad, officers intercepted several vehicles bound for NSW and seized six cardboard boxes containing a total of close to $6 million in cash.
The cash seizure is believed to be linked to a seizure of 4kg of methylamphetamine in August.
Four men – a 61-year-old man from Caversham; a 33-year-old man from Stirling; a 31-year-old man from Butler; and a 27-year-old man from Banksia Grove – have been arrested and charged in relation to the seizure of the cash, and each has been charged with Laundering Property/Money from Proceeds of Major Offence.
All four men were refused bail.
The 27-year-old Banksia Grove man has also been charged in relation to the August 2020 seizure of the 4kg of methylamphetamine.
A 32-year-old man from Scarborough, who it will be alleged was found in possession of the 4kg of Methylamphetamine at the time of its seizure, was charged in August and is continuing through the court process.
As part of the ongoing operation, two further trucks were intercepted on November 5. The first truck was intercepted by detectives from the Organised Crime Squad in Meckering.
It is believed the truck had recently arrived in Western Australia, and was heading back across the border. The truck is currently the subject of an ongoing comprehensive search. Police have so far found a further $3 million dollars in cash in the vehicles.
The two occupants of the truck – a 53-year-old man from New South Wales and a 47-year-old man from Queensland – were arrested. They were both charged with Laundering Property/Money from Proceeds of Major Offence and were also refused bail.
A 42-year-old man from Alkimos was also arrested. It will be alleged he delivered the cash to the occupants of the truck.
The second truck was intercepted by detectives from the Gang Crime Squad in Coolgardie. That truck is also subject of an ongoing comprehensive search. Police say a significant amount of cash has been located in the vehicle.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Allan Adams from State Crime Command said detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Division continued to identify and disrupt Serious and Organised Crime Groups who were attempting to transport illicit drugs and cash across the state border.
“In recent weeks those efforts resulted in two significant cash seizures – one involving almost $6 million cash, and the other involving almost $3 million cash,” he said.
“In both those cases it is believed the cash was heading back to the east coast of Australia, where it would have likely been used to fund further drug distribution activities.
“Seizing cash from these drug networks is a critical component of disrupting and dismantling their activities, but most importantly it means we have prevented the cash being used to repeat the community harm cycle it would have funded.
“WA Police Force will continue to focus on border operations – work which is done in partnership with our state and Commonwealth law enforcement and intelligence partners.”
