Four charged over pork meat industry ‘financial crimes’
Laine Clark |
Four people in the pork meat industry have been charged after being accused of moving more than $30 million in cash interstate over almost a decade.
They also allegedly kept $10 million in sales off the books for personal use during the same period.
The quartet – all business owners or pork meat industry representatives – were charged following a joint investigation into large scale financial crime allegations.
More than $25 million in suspected proceeds of crime has been seized including about $3 million in cash and two motor vehicles following the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission-led investigation.
The pork meat industry representatives allegedly kept the $10 million in sales off the books and moved more than $30 million in cash from NSW to Queensland between 2017 and 2026.
The quartet included two Queensland-based people who were charged with a number of offences including fraud, receiving tainted property and making false declarations.
The pair was also accused of fraudulently relabelling frozen meat products by altering production and best-before dates, however, authorities said it did not raise any food safety concerns.
They will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 14.
The remaining pair is based in NSW and face charges related to the destruction of records with intent to defraud.
One of them has also been charged with separate child and animal abuse material possession offences.
The investigation was undertaken in partnership with NSW Police Anti-Money Laundering Unit and the state’s Crime Commission.
“Complex financial crime is often sophisticated and deliberately concealed,” Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission’s Cameron Rentz said.
“The outcome of this investigation demonstrates the value of intelligence-led operations and strong cooperation between law enforcement agencies.”
The NSW Crime Commission said it would begin the process of returning the proceeds of crime to the NSW residents.
AAP