Two women charged over money laundering
Two Perth women have been charged over attempting to launder almost $1 million generated from the drug-dealing activities of an outlaw bikie gang.
The women, aged 33 and 59, are expected to front Perth Magistrates Court on Friday as a result of an Australian Federal Police operation dubbed Ironside.
The AFP will allege that in May last year the 33-year-old drove another person to a business in Perth to deliver two bags.
The bags were searched and investigators found hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Further searches led to the discovery of more cash, with the total amount seized $996,165.
The AFP said it would be further alleged the women were storing and laundering significant amounts of illicit cash on behalf of a Comanchero gang member, who was living overseas, and that the money was the profits of drug dealing.
AFP Acting Inspector Chris Colley said seizing money linked to crime was a key strategy to prevent those involved from profiting from their illegal activities or funding future criminal ventures.
“Most organised crime is motivated by money and when you take away the profits, you hit offenders where it hurts most,” Acting Inspector Colley said.
“People who help drug traffickers and other offenders to access their criminal profits may buy goods or assets to try to legitimise the cash, or use money remitters, casinos or money mules to move the profits offshore without alerting law enforcement or regulatory authorities.”
The two women were arrested after officers searched their homes in Perth’s south-eastern suburbs.
Both were charged with property laundering and face a maximum 20-year jail term if convicted.
