A 31-year-old Tasmanian man has been charged after police seized $630,000 in cash during a major operation targeting alleged drug syndicates across the state.
Officers stopped the man near Melton Mowbray on the Midland Highway on August 17 and allegedly found $580,000 hidden in sealed plastic bags inside a supermarket cooler bag.
Searches at two related southern Tasmania addresses uncovered another $50,000 in cash and other items, bringing the total seizure to $630,000.
The arrest follows a months-long investigation by the Tasmania Joint Organised Crime Task Force, made up of Tasmania Police, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF).
The man faced Hobart Magistrates Court on August 18, charged with dealing with property worth more than $100,000 suspected to be proceeds of crime — an offence carrying a maximum 20-year jail term.
He also faces a charge of failing to comply with a court order, which carries up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
He was granted bail and is due back in court on November 6.
Tasmania Police Crime and Intelligence Command Inspector Troy Morrisby said the seizures were linked to illicit drug distribution.
“Our detectives, working closely with our partners at the AFP and ABF, used a variety of investigative techniques over a prolonged period during this operation,” Morrisby said.
“This recent seizure of significant sums of money is the result of dedicated police work and we aim to make further inroads to disrupt the movement of drugs in our community.”
AFP Detective Sergeant Nick Gibson said investigations into the source of the cash were ongoing.
“The AFP works closely with partners to protect the community and Australia’s legitimate economy and ensure potentially dirty money does not continue to fund future criminal endeavours,” he said.
“Criminal networks can use unexplained cash to support other serious criminal activities.”
“The message to these criminals is simple, the AFP and our partners won’t stop until we have shut down your illegal and harmful activities.”
