Media Release
Sydney man charged with allegedly laundering $2.4 million in dirty cash
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A North Shore man is scheduled to appear before the NSW Bail Division Court today (4 July, 2026) charged after allegedly laundering $2.4 million of criminal proceeds through his construction business.
AFP-led Taskforce Avarus began investigating the man, 45, following a joint AFP and NSW Police investigation last December, which led to four men being charged for laundering $150 million in illicit cash.
The men are alleged to be members of a sophisticated money laundering syndicate which allegedly laundered illicit cash on behalf of an organised crime group.
Analysis of devices seized during this investigation led to police identifying the 45-year-old Killara man.
Police will allege the man received illicit cash on behalf of the syndicate to launder through a construction business between June, 2024 and November, 2025.
The man allegedly paid staff with the illicit cash and then transferred legitimate money earned by the business plus a commission back to the syndicate under a fraudulent invoice.
A search warrant was executed in Killara, NSW, on 3 July, 2026, with officers seizing several mobile devices, data from a computer located at the premises, along with about $30,000 cash.
The man was charged with one count of dealing with proceeds of crime, money or 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.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Dan Burnicle said money laundering investigations were inherently challenging due to the complex web of deception used by criminals, including comingling licit and illicit cash.
“This plot was calculated and demonstrates the lengths criminals will go to increase their wealth,” Det a/Supt Burnicle said.
“We allege this man used his own business as a front to launder dirty cash and avoid taxes, which enabled the money laundering syndicate to keep up their services for organised crime.
“Laundering any form of illicit cash is a criminal offence and fuels further criminal activity which negatively impact the community, such as drug trafficking and cybercrime.”
Taskforce Avarus uses the firepower of the AFP, AUSTRAC, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Border Force and the major Australian banks to unravel the complex structures and methods criminals adopt to hide their illicit money.
