Three men have been arrested after allegedly racking up nearly $10 million by selling counterfeit luxury goods on social media, and several high-end vehicles in their possession have been seized.
A total of nine vehicles were seized in Sydney as part of Strike Force Alcova, with the cars having a combined value of approximately $3 million.
Imagery provided by the NSW Police Force reveals a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, Urus and Huracan, a McLaren 765LT, and a Mercedes-AMG A35 being seized by officers on Wednesday (June 18).
Also seized by officers were 500 counterfeit luxury items, $270,000 in cash, and a gel blaster firearm.
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Search warrants were executed in Fairfield East, Merrylands and Guildford and three men were arrested.
Strike Force Alcova was established by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad Unexplained Wealth Team and the NSW Crime Commission to investigate an organised criminal syndicate allegedly involved in selling counterfeit luxury goods.
These goods included clothes, watches, shoes and handbags sold via social media sites, and investigators allege the group had moved approximately $9.75 million in profits through various bank accounts.
The men were charged with dealing with property proceeds of crime, recklessly dealing with the proceeds of general crime intended to conceal, and participating in criminal group activity, among other offences, and were refused bail to appear in Paramatta Local Court yesterday.
“We will allege these individuals built a multi-million-dollar empire by deceiving consumers and undermining legitimate businesses,” said Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, Commander of State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad.
“Behind the filters and followers was a sophisticated criminal enterprise exploiting digital platforms to sell counterfeit luxury goods.”
“The evidence suggests this criminal group stockpiled significant wealth – vehicles, cash, and luxury goods – through the sale of counterfeit items. These assets are now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission,” said NSW Crime Commission executive director Darren Bennett, noting the significant seizure of “tainted assets”.
This comes just weeks after an Australian Federal Police-led taskforce seized a collection of exotic vehicles from a NSW pharmacist who allegedly made false claims under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for almost a decade.
This alleged criminal’s collection also included Lamborghinis and McLarens.
A McLaren 765LT was seized following the execution of a search warrant at a house in Dural, as were a Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae and an Aventador SVJ – the latter wearing a colour scheme perhaps best described as resembling Barney the Dinosaur.