Five arrests as weapons, boats, cash, cars seized
The 32-year-old was one of five people charged, while more than $300,000 cash and four vehicles were allegedly seized as part of a car rebirthing investigation last Wednesday.
In August 2018, detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad’s Motor Unit established Strike Force Emelle to investigate the coordinated theft, rebirthing and on-sale of stolen motor vehicles and vessels across Sydney.
Last Wednesday, police raided five homes, allegedly seizing more than $332,000 cash, four vehicles including a Honda Integra sedan, Toyota Prado and two BMWs, four boats, a motorcycle, mobile phones, knuckle dusters, electronic devices, firearms and documents.
Police will allege in court that the syndicate was also involved in the rebirthing of a number of vessels with a combined value of more than $350,000.
It will be further alleged that some members of the syndicate were also involved in the distribution and supply of prohibited drugs.
The Yagoona man was charged with knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal, and knowingly facilitate organised car rebirthing; a 30-year-old man was charged with 32 offences including knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal, knowingly facilitate organised car rebirthing, knowingly direct activities of criminal group, steal motor vehicle (x9), possess vehicle/vessel with intent to copy etc (x4), and supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity); a 20-year-old man has been charged with 14 offences including knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal, knowingly facilitate organised car rebirthing, knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime, dishonestly interfere/copy unique identifier (x2), and supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis; a 20-year-old woman was charged with supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), possess prohibited drug, steal motor vehicle (x2), and goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen; and a 64-year-old man was charged with 49 offences including knowingly facilitate organised car rebirthing, dishonestly make unique identifier (x44), possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, possess unauthorised firearm (x2), and not keep firearm safely.
