Media Release
Two SA men charged following drug and money laundering investigation
This is a joint release between Western Australia Police Force, Australian Federal Police, South Australia Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and AUSTRAC
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A South Australian man accused of an illicit cash handover is the eleventh person charged as part of an investigation into an alleged drug and money laundering syndicate operating across Australia.
Ten people in Western and South Australia were charged earlier this year after police seized 114kg of methylamphetamine, 6.3kg of heroin, 4kg of ketamine and more than $1.1 million in suspected proceeds of crime.
As a result of ongoing investigations, on 29 July, 2026, the South Australia Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (SA JOCTF), with support from WA JOCTF members, executed search warrants at two Adelaide residences.
A Woodville North man, 32, was charged with knowingly engaging in a transaction of property, namely cash, knowing that the property was tainted, contrary to section 138 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA).
This offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
It will be alleged he handed over $166,000 in illicit cash to another person at Mawson Lakes on 17 March, 2026.
He was bailed to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on 21 October, 2026.
During a second search warrant at a Mawson Lakes residence, SA JOCTF found and seized 24 grams of cocaine.
A Mawson Lakes man, 28, was charged with one count of trafficking in a controlled drug, contrary to section 32 of the Controlled Substances Act 1984 (SA). He has not been charged in relation to the alleged cross-border network.
This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.
He was bailed to appear at Elizabeth Magistrates Court on 10 September, 2026.
The investigation into the alleged cross-border money laundering and drug trafficking network involved the AFP, Western Australia and South Australia police forces, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and AUSTRAC, with support from law enforcement in Vietnam.
The syndicate is alleged to have attempted to traffic methylamphetamine and heroin into WA in vehicles they were driving from interstate and transferred the alleged cash from drug sales into cryptocurrency in a bid to avoid police detection.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Simon Lalic said joint task forces strengthened law enforcement’s ability to investigate alleged offending across jurisdictions and disrupt all aspects of criminal supply chains.
“The AFP and its partner agencies remain dedicated to safeguarding the community by disrupting organised crime groups, seizing illicit commodities and preventing criminals from benefiting from the unlawful profits they generate,” Det a/Supt Lalic said.
Detective Superintendent Campbell Hill of South Australia Police said the results highlighted the value of law enforcement partnerships to disrupt and dismantle organised criminal groups.
“The results obtained to date in this investigation should serve to reduce levels of comfort criminal groups and their facilitators feel in seeking to use state borders as barriers to law enforcement investigations into their offending,” Det Supt Hill said.
“Those involved at all levels of offending will be pursued and prosecuted by investigators.”
