Chinese Money Laundering in Oz By James Reed

This news item needs to be recorded for the record, as it shows what Australia faces as Chinese communist money washes over us. Police have busted a vast money-laundering syndicate based around Changjiang Currency Exchange. Money was laundered through 12 retail outlets. As a measure of the extent of this, the police seized $ 50 million worth of luxury cars and property. This was an Australia wide operation with Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth involved.

It is very likely that the opening up of Australia to becoming part of China, with few restrictions upon capital flows into Australian real-estate will allow Asian Organised Crime a free ride into Australia. The old crime syndicates became unstoppable, but they are small fry compared to the coming threat of Asian Organised Crime. Australians have yet to organise to deal with mass immigration, let alone the crime issue.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-25/afp-raids-target-alleged-money-laundering-syndicate/103021474

“Australian Federal Police have arrested seven people in Melbourne and seized $50 million worth of luxury cars and property during raids on an alleged money-laundering syndicate it says was operating "in plain sight". 

Key points:

• AFP officers started investigating Changjiang Currency Exchange when they noticed it expanding during COVID lockdowns
• Police allege a gang was laundering money through 12 retail outlets around Australia
• The gang allegedly coached criminals on how to create fake documents to conceal where their money came from, police allege

More than 300 officers executed search warrants on homes and offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth early on Wednesday following the 14-month investigation into Changjiang Currency Exchange, a retail money-transfer business that police claim has helped criminals launder almost $230 million over the past three years.

The seven people arrested include four men and three women, aged between 33 and 40. Four are Chinese nationals and three are Australian citizens.

One member of the alleged syndicate, Zhou Chen, a 37-year-old from Balwyn in Melbourne's east, faced court on Wednesday evening, charged with two counts of conspiracy to deal with the proceeds of crime. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

On Thursday, the remaining six alleged syndicate members faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court for brief filing hearings, where they were placed in the dock and flanked by security guards.

The group was remanded in custody, although lawyers for some of the accused flagged bail applications would be lodged in the coming weeks.

The court was told Kew husband and wife Ye Qu and Jing Zhu, both 35, were being held in custody for the first time.

Jie Lu, a 28-year-old mother from Balwyn, is now relying on relatives to take care of her baby while she is behind bars, the court heard.

About 10 people sat in the public gallery to support Ding Wang, a 40-year-old man from Glen Iris.

Supporters of Fei Duan burst into tears when the 37-year-old Balwyn man was brought into the room for his hearing.

Vermont woman Jin Wang, 33, was the last of the alleged syndicate members to face court.

Details about the allegations against the group were not read out, and they were not required to enter a plea or speak to the magistrate.

The group will return to court on March 13, 2024.”