{"id":14185,"date":"2014-01-23T20:20:30","date_gmt":"2014-01-23T19:20:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.w-t-w.org\/en\/?page_id=14185"},"modified":"2014-01-23T22:08:08","modified_gmt":"2014-01-23T21:08:08","slug":"task-force-eligo-generates-more-than-580-million-in-cash-drugs-and-assets","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.w-t-w.org\/en\/task-force-eligo-generates-more-than-580-million-in-cash-drugs-and-assets\/","title":{"rendered":"Task Force Eligo generates more than $580 million in cash, drugs and assets"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Australien Money-Laundering Scam Funding Hezbollah ET AL.
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Australian Crime Commission, Australian Federal Police, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Australian Crime Commission has today unveiled a year-long covert money laundering investigation codenamed Eligo following a record $5.7 million cash seizure in Sydney at the weekend (Saturday, 18 January 2014).<\/p>\n

The Eligo National Task Force, established in 2012 as an Australian Crime Commission-led special investigation into the use of alternative remittance and informal value transfer systems by serious and organised crime, has seized more than $580 million worth of drugs and assets, including $26 million in cash.<\/p>\n

The task force has also disrupted 18 serious and organised crime groups and identified 128 criminal targets previously unknown to law enforcement. These criminal targets have been placed on the Australian Crime Commission\u2019s National Criminal Target List, and include targets operating in more than 20 countries.<\/p>\n

Australian Crime Commission acting Chief Executive Officer, Paul Jevtovic, said the task force was using criminal intelligence insights, including that of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, to disrupt illicit international money flows, and to \u2018harden\u2019 the alternative remittance sector against serious and organised crime.<\/p>\n

\u201cOrganised criminal groups are using complex and sophisticated money transfer structures in an attempt to legitimise their proceeds of crime,\u201d Mr Jevtovic said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNon-traditional law enforcement measures aimed at disrupting and deterring organised crime groups from targeting Australia have been used. Through these new methodologies, new areas of focus, and new and more efficient ways of investigation, we\u2019ve been better able to unearth an elaborate network of criminal activity, and remove half a billion dollars from the criminal economy\u2014profits destined to line the pockets of criminals, and to further facilitate crime such as drug trafficking,\u201d Mr Jevtovic said.<\/p>\n

The task force comprises the Australian Crime Commission, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), the Australian Federal Police in partnership with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and State and Territory police.<\/p>\n

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus said Task Force Eligo was having a significant impact.<\/p>\n

He said the high level of sophistication and international reach of these syndicates provides a disturbing picture of the transnational nature of serious and organised crime; \u201chowever these criminals are now firmly in our sight, and we will continue to target their activities to remove the incentive and reward for organised crime in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n

AUSTRAC Chief Executive Officer John Schmidt said the legitimate and cash intensive remittance sector, a key focus of the task force, is recognised internationally as a high risk of being exploited by serious and organised crime groups.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe inherent risk of the sector\u2014which provides an important service whereby Australians can send money anywhere in the world affordably and almost instantaneously\u2014underlines the importance of maintaining a robust regulatory regime and continuing industry engagement and support,\u201d Mr Schmidt said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past two years AUSTRAC has taken regulatory action against 15 remitters. Importantly, the task force will continue to work with the alternative remittance sector and relevant industry bodies to build resilience and safeguard against such organised crime threats.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the investigation, Task Force Eligo also worked closely with the Drug Enforcement Administration by tapping into the agency\u2019s global network and expertise in money laundering investigations.<\/p>\n

Assistant Attach\u00e9 to Australia Uri Shafir said the collaboration was yet another outstanding example of the successes achieved when international law enforcement agencies join forces in\u00a0the fight against organised crime.<\/p>\n

United States Ambassador to Australia John Berry offered his congratulations:\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m proud that we have such strong law enforcement cooperation with Australia\u2014together we are disrupting the international drug trade and preventing people from profiting from crime.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Eligo National Task Force has led to:<\/p>\n