CANBERRA, ACT, July 4 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:
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A North Shore manis scheduled to appearbeforethe NSW Bail Division Courttoday(4July,2026) chargedafterallegedly laundering$2.4millionof criminalproceedsthrough his construction business.
AFP-led TaskforceAvarusbegan investigating the man,45,following ajoint AFP and NSW Police investigation last December,which led to four men being chargedfor laundering $150 million in illicit cash.
The men are alleged to be members of a sophisticated money laundering syndicatewhichallegedlylaundered illicit cash on behalf of an organised crime group.
Analysisof devices seizedduring this investigation led to policeidentifyingthe45-year-oldKillaraman.
Police will allege the man received illicit cash on behalf of the syndicate to launder throughaconstruction businessbetweenJune,2024 andNovember,2025.
The man allegedly paid staff with the illicitcash andthen transferredlegitimate money earned by the businessplus a commissionback to the syndicateunder a fraudulent invoice.
A search warrant was executed in Killara, NSW, on 3July,2026, with officers seizingseveral mobile devices, data from a computerlocatedat the premises, along with about$30,000 cash.
The manwas charged withone count ofdealing with proceeds of crime,moneyor property worth $1,000,000 or more, contrary to section 400.3(2B) of the Criminal Code (Cth).He was refused police bail.
This offence carries a maximum penalty of 12 years' imprisonment.
AFPDetective Acting Superintendent DanBurniclesaidmoney laundering investigations were inherently challenging due to the complex web of deception used by criminals, includingcominglinglicit and illicit cash.
"This plot was calculatedand demonstrates the lengths criminals will go to increase their wealth,"Det a/SuptBurniclesaid.
"We allege thisman used his own business as a front to launder dirty cash and avoidtaxes,whichenabled the money laundering syndicate to keep up their services for organised crime.
"Laundering any form of illicit cash is a criminal offence and fuels furthercriminal activitywhichnegatively impact the community,such as drug traffickingand cybercrime."
TaskforceAvarususes the firepower of the AFP, AUSTRAC, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian BorderForceand the major Australian banks to unravel the complex structures and methods criminals adopt to hide their illicit money.
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