HomeBusinessGeraldton Farmer’s $679,750 Cash Forfeited Under Proceeds of Crime Act

Geraldton Farmer’s $679,750 Cash Forfeited Under Proceeds of Crime Act

AFP-Led Taskforce Secures Major Cash Forfeiture from Tax Fraud Investigation

The Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT), led by the AFP, secured the forfeiture of $679,750 seized from a Geraldton farmer at Perth Airport in 2021. The man, caught with cash-filled backpacks during routine airport patrols, claimed the money came from business activities as a vegetable grower.

An investigation into the man’s financial dealings revealed suspicions of tax fraud. In December 2021, searches of three properties in WA’s Mid-West linked to him unearthed further documents, and two workers were found in visa breaches. He was fined $15,984 for these infringements.

The AFP CACT suspected the cash was intended to conceal earnings from the ATO. The Supreme Court of WA ordered the funds forfeited on 11 November 2024 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Detective Acting Inspector Fleur Jennings emphasized the CACT’s dedication to disrupting financial crimes and ensuring fairness in the tax system. Forfeited assets are liquidated and redirected to community programs, such as crime prevention, child protection, and public safety initiatives.

The CACT, comprising agencies like the AFP, ATO, and AUSTRAC, continues its mission to trace and confiscate illicit assets, benefiting the broader community.

Afp WA

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