WA Police Force, AFP and Office of Colombian Attorney General joint investigation
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A 36-year-old Perth man has been arrested in Colombia, following an international, four-year-long joint operation between the Western Australia Police Force, and the Office of the Colombian Attorney General, with assistance from Australian Federal Police.
It will be alleged this man led significant criminal networks in Western Australia, and in 2019, moved to Colombia to avoid apprehension by the WA Police Force. The belief was the man would continue to manage criminal networks in WA, from Colombia.
AFP officers stationed in Colombia were informed of this development, and with WA Police Force support, the standing AFP and Office of the Colombian Attorney General taskforce investigated the activities and movements of the man, whilst he resided in Colombia.
As part of this operation, detectives from WA Police Force, Serious Organised Crime Division travelled to Colombia during November 2021 and briefed judicial police from the Office of the Colombian Attorney General and the AFP to inform the investigational activity in Colombia.
During July 2023, detectives from WA Police Force, Serious Organised Crime Division and AFP Western Command travelled to Colombia to assist Office of the Colombian Attorney General with the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the 36-year-old man. On 24 July 2023, the operation entered a resolution phase, during which, numerous search warrants were simultaneously executed in Perth and in the cities of Medellín and Cartagena, Colombia.
The 36-year-old Perth man was arrested in his Medellín premises, along with other members of his network, by the joint taskforce, supported by other judicial police, the Office of the Colombian Attorney General and members the Colombian Army. He will now face prosecution in Colombia for money laundering and proceeds of crime offences.
During the efforts in Colombia, more than $1 million worth of assets were seized, with further seizures to continue.
These seizures include;
- $260,000 AUD (various currencies)
- One four storey house
- One apartment
- Ten motor vehicles
- One businesses premises
- Three Colombian registered companies
- One speed boat
- One motorcycle.
The following quotes can be attributed to WA Police Force Detective Superintendent John Hutchison.
“This is a great result for the WA Police Force, and an example of the lengths we will go to bring offenders to justice in this State. We sought and received support from our partners, both in Australia and Colombia and as a result, a significant transnational serious organised crime group has been severely disrupted, with the joint assistance of the Office of the Colombian Attorney General, and the Australian Federal Police.
“It will be alleged this individual was contributing to community harm on a large scale in Western Australia. He thought he could operate with impunity from outside Australia.
“You cannot run, and you cannot hide. Once a person is on our radar for committing serious and organised crimes in our jurisdiction, our focus will not shift until they are apprehended.
“The WA Police Force will be relentless in our pursuit of individuals causing harm in the community of Western Australia.
“We will continue to work cooperatively with international law enforcement agencies to ensure criminals face the consequences of their actions.”
AFP Detective Superintendent James Stokes, the AFP’s Senior Officer in South America, said the AFP’s international partnerships protected Australians at home, by disrupting criminals offshore.
“The AFP has had members based in Colombia for more than two decades and built a strong relationship with Colombian authorities, as we have with authorities in all of the 33 countries where AFP members are based,” Detective Superintendent Stokes said.
“During this operation, the AFP conducted joint investigations with the Office of the Colombian Attorney-General through our joint standing taskforce, which works to counter sophisticated criminal syndicates that target the Colombian, Australian and international communities, with the Western Australia Police Force.
“The former Western Australian resident arrested by the Office of the Colombian Attorney-General allegedly received millions of dollars of illicit funds through manipulation of the financial systems of both countries.
“The AFP works closely with partners in Latin America to create a hostile environment for criminals whose behaviour causes harm in each of our countries and Colombia is a regional leader in the fight against transnational serious organised crime groups.”