A law enforcement investigation identified a former solicitor who stole more than AUD1 million from individuals, businesses and financial institutions as part of an elaborate mortgage refinancing fraud.
Case studies
AUSTRAC case studies are a valuable resource for industry and AUSTRAC's partner agencies. They reveal the diversity and seriousness of the organised crime and terrorism financing threats facing industry and the wider community.
These real-life cases present a snapshot of how criminals are seeking to misuse Australia's financial system and how AUSTRAC intelligence and analysis is instrumental in combating these criminals.
The case studies also demonstrate the enormous intelligence value of the financial transaction and suspicious matter reports AUSTRAC receives from industry as they play an important role as partners in combating serious and organised crime and the financing of terrorism.
Case studies from our international counterparts are available on the International case studies page.
25 February 2016
A joint-agency law enforcement investigation identified a number of individuals and organised crime syndicates involved in importing drugs into Australia via the postal system.
3 December 2015
SMR leads to the arrest of an offender for structuring more than AUD2.5 million in cash deposits to avoid threshold transaction reporting requirements.
16 October 2015
AUSTRAC finds correlations between international funds transfers coinciding with drug importations and leads investigators to the suspect, based in Australia, who was in receipt of drugs imported into Australia through the postal system.
4 September 2015
AUSTRAC intelligence assisted a joint law enforcement investigation targeting registered sex offenders travelling offshore to commit offences against children. While assisting the investigation, AUSTRAC identified two additional suspects in Australia who were sending funds to the Philippines to facilitate the sexual exploitation of children.
28 July 2015
AUSTRAC and Australian law enforcement worked together with Colombian counterparts to dismantle an international drug syndicate with links to Thailand, Ecuador, Italy, USA and France.
1 July 2014
Suspicious matter reports submitted to AUSTRAC led to the arrest of an international fugitive wanted for cybercrime and fraud offences.
1 July 2014
A joint investigation between Australian and Indonesian authorities identified two Australian suspects (a father and son) who were facilitating a people smuggling venture.
1 July 2014
AUSTRAC information contributed to a law enforcement investigation into a syndicate involved in the trafficking of women from Thailand to Australia.
1 July 2014
AUSTRAC intelligence assisted law enforcement with an investigation into drug trafficking where the suspect was charged with attempting to traffic a controlled drug and sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment.