Wellington Police Help With International Money Laundering Inquiry
New Zealand Police National News Release
4:52pm 29 April 2008
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=3912

Wellington Police District's Proceeds of Crime Unit is assisting the Australian Federal Police in a large scale international money laundering, tax evasion and money laundering investigation.

Detective Inspector Shane Cotter, acting Crime Services Manager, said that four search warrants were executed by Wellington and Auckland officers in Auckland yesterday as part of the AFP led investigation involving the arrest of a 58-year-old businessman in Perth.

"We executed three search warrants at Auckland business addresses and at one residential property," Detective Inspector Cotter said. "A large number of documents including financial transaction records have been seized. These will be analysed as part of the wider investigation."

Detective Inspector Cotter said further inquiries with individuals and companies will be made in Wellington and Nelson. Wellington Police's Proceeds of Crime Unit has been working on the investigation with AFP and Vanuatu law enforcement staff for the last two years.

"Our involvement is because of the schemes links to New Zealand banking systems. Yesterday's arrest coupled with ongoing inquiries sends a clear message that if businesses or individuals take part in fraud or other trans-national crime they will be identified," he said.

ENDS

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