Police find $1.8million cash in car boot during a routine stop in Western Australia
What $1.8 MILLION in cash looks like: Officers stunned by alleged find in a suitcase and duffel bag in the trunk of a rental car during a routine stop
- Western Australian police find $1.8 million in trunk
- Police officers arrested a 36-year-old man in Zuiderkruis
- The man was charged with property laundering
WA police have arrested and charged a 36-year-old man after allegedly taking $1.8 million from his trunk.
Agents from the Transnational and Serious Organized Crime Squad claim the man rented a vehicle in Perth on Thursday and made an escape trip to the eastern states.
He was apprehended by police at 2:20 pm the same day in Southern Cross, a town 371 km east of Perth.
Officers from the Transnational and Serious Organized Crime Squad claim the man rented a vehicle in Perth on Thursday and made an escape trip to the eastern states (pictured, the money allegedly found in the briefcase)
A search of the vehicle found a large suitcase in the trunk of the vehicle and a duffel bag containing $1.8 million in cash in the trunk (pictured)
The man was stopped by police at 2:20 pm the same day in Southern Cross, a town 371 km east of Perth (pictured, the money found in the bag)
A search of the vehicle found a large briefcase in the trunk of the vehicle and a duffel bag containing $1.8 million in cash in the trunk.
He was taken to Perth and charged with property laundering, an offense Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Carter described as “the highest charge of money crime.”
The man will ‘very likely’ be charged with other crimes and there is also a good chance that others will be identified and charged as well.
Sergeant Carter said the source of the money is being investigated.
“Clearly the conclusion that it comes from organized crime activity in WA is something we’re pursuing in terms of our investigative actions,” he said.
“I can’t say anything about that yet, but it’s something we’re definitely looking at.”
The arrested man (pictured) has been returned to Perth, where he will appear in court in June
Police say they have been made aware of the man, who is from the eastern states, due to a joint investigation with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“We were aware of certain information that influenced that stop at the Southern Cross Police Department,” Sergeant Carter said.
The indicted man will appear before Perth Magistrates Court on June 16.