A New South Wales police officer has been discovered to have offered greater than AUD 1.3 million in household gold bars to help his playing habit.
Australia’s Legislation Enforcement Conduct Fee (LECC) uncovered a NSW police officer who has offered greater than AUD 1.3 million ($860,000) to help his gambling addiction. The officer was discovered to have engaged in critical misconduct after taking 12 gold bars, every weighing 50 ounces, from his household. They belonged to his uncle and have been being saved beneath his mom’s home.
“Playing hurt doesn’t simply drain financial institution accounts, it will probably drive determined folks into crime.” – Brendan Thomas, AUSTRAC CEO
The officer went on to falsify kinds to promote the bars to 2 separate sellers, claiming the gold was a household present or inheritance. He used the funds from the gross sales to gamble on sports activities betting apps, later admitting to the false info.
Intelligence from the Australian Transaction Stories and Evaluation Centre (AUSTRAC) first triggered the investigation (dubbed Operation Dartmoor), with suspicious transactions flagged. Particularly, the gold gross sales flagged potential cash laundering hyperlinks.
The influence of playing habit
Operation Dartmoor has led to the officer’s resignation from the NSW Police Drive, with additional investigation deliberate by the Division of Public Prosecutions. AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas stated the case has underlined the felony dangers going through the bullion sector.
“Gambling harm doesn’t simply drain financial institution accounts, it will probably drive determined folks into crime,” Thomas stated. “When playing turns to habit, folks typically search for quick cash and that may imply stealing, fraud or cash laundering.
“Bullion is moveable, precious and enticing to folks wanting to make use of it illegitimately. For those who commerce in bullion, you might be a part of the entrance line in stopping its exploitation.
“Your AML/CTF controls are the distinction between being a trusted vendor or a weak hyperlink for crime. Each transaction is a possible crimson flag – it’s your duty to look twice, and if wanted, report it.”
AUSTRAC regulates gold and bullion sellers, monitoring doubtlessly suspicious transactions like these flagged above. From July 1, 2026, the group may even embody sellers in treasured metals and stones in its operations.
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