Seven people have been charged over an alleged international money laundering and drug ring operating out of New South Wales. A 37-year-old man in Vietnam was allegedly found to be converting large sums of money to cryptocurrency for alleged organised drug supply groups in NSW. Five people were arrested on Friday morning following six search warrants in Umina Beach, Double Bay, Lane Cove, Parramatta, and Bankstown. READ MORE: Wife of jailed former Top Gun pilot calls on PM to intervene Police allege they “assisted in transporting and laundering money on behalf of the international syndicate.” Close to $50,000 in cash was found during the search, as well as a money counter, cryptocurrency wallets, electronics, drugs, and documents important to the investigation. A 64-year-old woman from Lane Cove was arrested and charged with eight offences, including seven counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group. She was allegedly coordinating the money laundering syndicate on behalf of the 31-year-old man in Vietnam. A 52-year-old man from Parramatta was arrested and charged with ten offences, including nine counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of a crime and participating in a criminal group. Both were refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Local Court today. READ MORE: Brisbane man, 93, fights to save home from Gabba redevelopment Two men, aged 28 and 31, were arrested in Double Bay and were charged with different offences. The 28-year-old was charged with two counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of a crime. The 31-year-old was charged with 14 offences, including 13 counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of a crime and participating in a criminal group. They were both refused bail and appeared in court yesterday. A 33-year-old man from Bankstown was arrested after allegedly trying to run from police. He has been charged with five offences, including four counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of a crime and participating in a criminal group. He was refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Local Court today. The strike force, dubbed ‘Operation Phobetor-Enyo’ is a joint operation by the NSW Police Force, the Australia Federal Police, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the New South Wales Crime Commission. READ MORE: Albanese confirms he will not go to Israel as world leaders visit amid conflict Two women were arrested following the discovery that alleged drug money was being funnelled through the international syndicate. The alleged large-scale drug operation was running out of the Central Coast. The 26 and 27-year-old were arrested in Umina Beach and charged with several offences. The 26-year-old was charged with seven offences, including four counts of knowingly dealing with a crime, two counts of supplying prohibited drugs in a large commercial quantity, and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order. The 27-year-old woman was charged with supplying prohibited drugs in an indictable and commercial quantity, possessing prohibited drugs and breaching bail. Both were refused bail. The older woman faced court yesterday, while the younger one will face court today. A total of 12 people have been charged over the course of the operation, with more than 300kg of drugs and $2.8 million in cash seized. 15 firearms have also been uncovered as part of the investigation.
Seven people charged over international money laundering and drug ring
