Media Release
Queensland man charged with offence under the anti-money laundering act
A Queensland man is expected to appear before Cairns Magistrates Court today (16 July, 2025) charged with allegedly making a false or misleading statement to create and operate an online bank account.
The AFP started an investigation after the man, 61, accidently left about $10,000 in cash in a bag at Cairns Airport in late 2024 when he was flying out of Australia.
The man was questioned on his return and the cash returned to him with a formal police caution for failing to declare he was travelling in possession of more than $10,000 cash.
Further police inquiries linked the man to an online bank account that was allegedly created using identification details of another person who was not aware of the account.
AFP officers stopped the man at Cairns Airport on 17 June, 2025, after he returned from an overseas trip. During a search of the man’s possessions, investigators located a mobile device allegedly linked to the fraudulent account.
The 61-year-old was interviewed and issued with a court attendance notice. He is expected to appear before the Cairns Magistrates Court today on one count of knowingly make false or misleading statement, contrary to section 136.1(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years’ imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Christopher Symons said the AFP was committed to ensuring Australia’s national security, and AFP officers were constantly generating intelligence and investigating suspicious activity.
"It is important for authorities to know who is moving money around in the Australian financial system to protect the entire community,” Det a/Insp Symons said.
“The penalties for making false declarations include heavy fines or imprisonment, underscoring the gravity of these offences.”
The AFP is the lead law enforcement agency at nine designed airports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
If you require a police presence at an airport, or wish to report an incident or provide information, please call the AFP’s Airport Watch on 131 AFP (131 237).
