Sydney police raids on south-west properties net $7million of luxury goods in crackdown on ‘unexplained’ wealth
Multiple properties have been raided by police in Sydney‘s south-west as a part of an investigation into ‘unexplained wealth’ – with flashy cars, luxury jewellery and a heap of cash amongst the glitzy haul.
Searches were conducted by the Organised Crime Squad following the introduction of new laws passed earlier this year that allow police to more easily claim assets reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
The laws came after a joint effort by the NSW Crime Commission and police which makes an individual responsible on proving how they purchased a home, car or any asset in an effort to crack down on Sydney’s ongoing gang war.
Police do not need to charge suspects with a specific offence in order to seize property or freeze other assets.
More than $7 million worth of property, luxury cars, gold bullions and high-end handbags were seized during raids on Thursday.
Abbas Daneshyar was the first victim of these new laws with the NSW Police Raptor Squad seizing his four properties, a $1 million Lamborghini, a selection of gold bullion and designer jewellery by mid-afternoon.
He is set to face a civil case brought by the NSW Crime Commission in the Supreme Court over more than $9million in assets and items he possesses, which they believe should be beyond the means of his income, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Mr Daneshyar was not charged with any criminal offences and Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting he is involved in organised crime.
Multiple vehicles, including a $380,000 2018 McLaren MA3 Coupe, and over $20,000 in cash was seized from a Bankstown warehouse.
Three men present at the property were searched but not charged with any offences.
A 2021 Lamborghini Aventador was seized around 5.30pm from another address in Drummoyne, as well as a number of electronic devices and documents which were taken for further forensic examination.
Other raids included a property in Padstow where more luxury goods were seized – including 14 luxury handbags by Hermes, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, five luxury ‘man bags’, Cartier jewellery, $10,000 cash, and four luxury watches by Rolex, Breitling and Cartier.
In Yagoona, police located and seized a case of gold bullion estimated to be worth $80,000.
‘Having these new powers and working closely with the NSWCC provides us with additional capabilities to target those that aid or facilitate the concealment of unexplained wealth,’ Organised Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said.
‘We know those at the top end of organised criminal networks follow the money – so having improved powers to target that money means we’re able to get to those right at the top.’
‘The big players tend to enjoy the wealth whilst keeping their heads down and their hands clean, but now we have the authority to put them before a court to show us how they made their money – something many of them will struggle to do,’ he said.
The new powers allow police to seize assets without a specific offence, NSWCC Executive Director Darren Bennett added.
‘The next step is civil court, where the owner of those assets is required to justify the goods were acquired through legal income,’ Mr Bennett said.
‘If they can’t do that, the assets are ultimately returned to the people of New South Wales.’
‘The NSW Government has recently enhanced the Crime Commission’s capabilities in this space, and this job is just the start of many more unexplained wealth investigations to come,’ he added.
Anyone with any information that may assist investigators are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
