Summary
As part of a law enforcement investigation, AUSTRAC traced and analysed the financial activities of a syndicate suspected of trafficking women from Thailand to Australia to work in brothels. The information helped identify syndicate members in both countries, and led to the conviction of an offender who was running the syndicate’s operations in Australia.
What to look out for
- International funds transfers (IFTIs) to a country of interest to authorities.
- Large cash withdrawals in a short time frame.
- Multiple customers linked by common addresses, conducting international funds transfers to the same overseas beneficiary.
- Multiple international funds transfers below A$10,000.
The crime
An investigation by law enforcement found an Australia-based syndicate member was getting women trafficked from Thailand to work in brothels in Australia. The women were forced to work in the brothels to pay off large debts they owed the syndicate member for bringing them to Australia.
AUSTRAC analysis revealed the women were transferring funds into the syndicate member’s bank account, as well as the account of a person in Thailand suspected of recruiting the women and organising their passage to Australia. The money trail AUSTRAC uncovered led to the arrest and conviction of the Australia-based syndicate member on charges relating to visa fraud and running a business involving sexual servitude.
Penalties
The offender was jailed for two years and three months after pleading guilty to all charges.
AUSTRAC’s role
AUSTRAC analysed cash transaction reports and international funds transfer instructions (IFTIs) to piece together the syndicate’s financial activities in Australia and Thailand. We revealed suspicious cash deposits and withdrawals consistent with the structuring or layering of funds, and identified other people linked to the syndicate.
The content on this website is general and is not legal advice. Before you make a decision or take a particular action based on the content on this website, you should check its accuracy, completeness, currency and relevance for your purposes. You may wish to seek independent professional advice.