A man has been charged with money laundering following a $9 million sting in the heart of the Darwin CBD.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday morning, NT Police executed search warrants on two businesses in the city, where a 33 year-old man was arrested and subsequently charged with money laundering.<\/p>\n
While he was being processed, Australian Border Force officers also executed search warrants in the Darwin region, including two residential properties and a commercial storage facility.<\/p>\n
Footage of one of the NT Police raids – executed on Mitchell Street – shows officers confronting the 33-year-old moments before placing him under arrest.<\/p>\n
Police spent the rest of the day tallying up their findings.<\/p>\n
Altogether, authorities seized 5,500 vapes, 16,500 nicotine products $73,600 in cash, digital devices and business records.<\/p>\n
Further action was taken to restrain a private residence, two motor vehicles, five bank accounts containing $150,000 and the shares of eight business entities.<\/p>\n
The operation – named \u2018Teton\u2019 – was four months in the making.<\/p>\n
Police say they launched the operation after detectives from the Financial Crimes Section identified significant volumes of money being processed through electronic payments facilities associated with businesses linked to the investigation.<\/p>\n
Police will allege that during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years, businesses associated with that investigation generated $12.1 million in sales.<\/p>\n
Following Wednesday\u2019s raids, police say investigators have already identified $9.36 million directly attributable to the alleged sale of illicit vaping and nicotine products.<\/p>\n
Detective Senior Sergeant Corey Borton addressed the shock arrest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis investigation is about the money \u2014 identifying where criminal proceeds came from, where they went, and who possessed or controlled them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur investigation has identified approximately $12.1 million in sales through businesses associated with the investigation, with approximately $9.36 million directly attributable to the sale of illicit vaping and nicotine products.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe significance for Financial Crimes is not simply how that money was generated. It is what happened to those proceeds and who was dealing with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
He had a warning for those thinking about getting rich via the black market.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you make money from crime, you should expect us to follow the money,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means examining bank accounts, merchant payment facilities, businesses and other assets to identify the proceeds of crime and establish who possesses or controls them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere the evidence establishes the necessary connection, and where the legislation provides a lawful basis to act, we will pursue those proceeds and the financial benefit generated by criminal activity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat can include cash, bank accounts, vehicles, property and businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Borton said the investigation – which involves Territory and Commonwealth officers – remains ongoing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe message to people involved in financially motivated crime is simple: the money itself can become the focus of a criminal investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A man has been charged with money laundering following a $9 million sting in the heart of 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