TWENTY people have been charged in relation to money laundering offences in which one million dollars was stolen through card-skimming and credit card fraud.
Detectives from State Crime Operations Command’s Fraud and Corporate Crime Group closed the 11 month Operation Kilo Dictate which investigated an international crime syndicate involved in laundering fraudulently obtained money.
Assisted by Gold Coast police, Toowoomba police and AUSTRAC, Australia’s financial intelligence unit, the Fraud and Corporate Crime Group tracked the syndicate who were based in southeast Queensland and were laundering the money to people in Romania and the United Kingdom.
The alleged crimes occurred over nine weeks from February to April last year and around one million dollars was acquired through card-skimming and credit card fraud offences.
Officer in Charge of the Fraud and Corporate Crime Group, Detective Superintendent Brian Hay, says this operation should send a clear message to anyone tempted to engage in these types of offences.
“This should also be a clear message to individuals sending unlawfully obtained money overseas on behalf of other persons, that you will be held to account and you may find yourself facing serious money laundering charges,” he said.
“Money mules are an integral component of transnational crime and many cyber crime operations and they will be targeted by the Fraud and Corporate Crime Group.”
More people are expected to be charged today.
Those charged are due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 12, charged under the Commonwealth offences dealing with the proceeds of crime.
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