Police have seized greater than $7m value of luxurious objects, from sports activities automobiles to gold bullion and purses, as a part of an investigation into “unexplained wealth” in Sydney’s southwest.
The elite anti-gang Raptor Squad aided detectives on Thursday morning in conducting sweeping raids at properties in Padstow, Yagoona, Bankstown, Picnic Point, Peakhurst and Drummoyne.
At Padstow, police seized 14 luxurious Hermes, Chanel and Louis Vuitton purses, 5 luxurious “man bags”, Cartier jewelry, $10,000 money, and 4 luxurious watches by Rolex, Breitling and Cartier.
In Yagoona, police positioned and seized a case of gold bullion estimated to be value $80,000, earlier than later that day seizing a 2021 Lamborghini Aventador at a property in Drummoyne with assist from riot police.
An additional 4 automobiles had been seized by officers at a property in Bankstown, together with a 2021 BMW S1000R motorbike, a 1971 Mazda RX2, a 1983 Holden Gemini, a 2018 McLaren MA3 Coup, and greater than $20,000 in money.
Electronic gadgets and paperwork had been additionally seized, with all objects taken for additional forensic examination by the NSW Crime Commission and Organised Crime Squad below newly minted powers.
In February, police got “enhanced powers” to focus on and confiscate unexplained wealth and belongings, with officers in July launching an investigation into belongings believed to be collected via felony exercise.
NSW Police Organised Crime Squad commander Superintendent Peter Faux stated the brand new powers meant police may “come down harder” on organised criminals and their associates.
“We know those at the top end of organised criminal networks follow the money – so, having improved powers to target that money means we’re able to get to those right at the top,” he stated.
“The big players tend to enjoy the wealth while keeping their heads down and their hands clean, but now we have the authority to put them before a court to show us how they made their money.”
NSW Crime Commission govt director Darren Bennett stated police now not wanted a particular offence to have the ability to seize and freeze wealth and belongings, solely “evidence and intelligence”.
“The next step is civil court, where the owner of those assets is required to justify the goods were acquired through legal income. If they can’t do that, the assets are ultimately returned to the people of NSW,” Mr Bennett stated.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
