Media Release: Further arrests laid in multimillion dollar identity crime syndicate investigation
Release Date: Thursday, September 27 2012, 09:31 AM
This is a joint media release between the AFP, NSW Police, RMS and DIAC
A 48-year-old Ryde man and a 40-year-old Ryde woman are the latest arrests in one of the most successful identity crime syndicate disruptions in Australian law enforcement history.
Since October 2011, two facilities manufacturing false documents and credit cards have been shut down, with a total of eight members of a highly sophisticated identity crime syndicate arrested.
Police have now seized more than 15,000 false credit cards, with an estimated potential fraud value of $37.5 million. This includes 12,000 false credit cards seized in November 2011, which was the largest singular seizure of fake credit cards in Australian history. Major manufacturing equipment has also been seized throughout the investigation.
The arrests come as a result of an Identity Security Strike Team (ISST) investigation which began in April 2011. The investigation focused on the activities of a Sydney based crime syndicate involved in the manufacture and supply of fraudulent identity documents and credit cards.
The ISST is comprised of members from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), New South Wales Police Force, New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).
Officers arrested the man and woman at their residential premise in Ryde this morning.
It will be alleged that the manufacturing of the fraudulent document used by this syndicate was conducted primarily at the pair’s residence.
The 48-year-old man has been charged with the following offences:
- Dealing in proceeds of crime, $100,000 or more contrary to section 400.4(2) of the Criminal Code 1995;
- Dealing in proceeds of crime, $50,000 or more contrary to section 400.5(2) of the Criminal Code 1995;
- False or misleading information contrary to section 136(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act 2006;
- Using a false document, contrary to section 254 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
The 40-year-old woman has been charged with the following offences:
- Dealing in proceeds of crime, $100,000 or more contrary to section 400.4(2) of the Criminal Code 1995;
- Using a false document, contrary to section 254 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
- Possession of equipment and materials for making false documents, contrary to section 256(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
- Dealing with identification information, contrary to section 192J of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
- Using a telecommunications network with intent to commit a serious offence, contrary to section 474.14 Criminal Code Act 1995, by virtue of section 192J of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
- Forgery – making false document, contrary to section 253 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
- Possession of identification information, contrary to section 192K of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
- Possession of false document, contrary to section 255 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
The pair is scheduled to appear in Hornsby Local court on 25 October 2012.
The ISST operates from the AFP's Sydney office with identity crime investigations also conducted from other AFP offices. The ISST investigates serious and complex identity security matters forming a collaborative network among law enforcement agencies to effectively deal with this crime.
Media enquiries:
AFP National Media (02) 6131 6333
NSW Police Media (02) 8835 8339
NSW RMS (02) 8588 5999
Previous media releases:
Woman arrested again after identity crime raids – Sydney:
http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/news/afp/2011/october/woman-arrested-again-after-identity-crime-raids-sydney.aspx
Multi-agency operation shuts down sophisticated credit card factory:
http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/news/afp/2012/july/multi-agency-operation-shuts-down-sophisticated-credit-card-factory.aspx