A man has been accused of laundering $13.2 million for a major crime syndicate by moving the cash earned from cocaine "dead drops" in paper, cooler and shopping bags.
Multiple arrests were made in September, as police announced they had taken down a group called "The Commission" that had been controlling Sydney's lucrative cocaine market while facilitating about 50,000 daily deals.
The group allegedly supplied more than a tonne of cocaine worth an estimated $1.8 billion in less than three months, ending in late July.
Duy Phuong Nguyen was arrested and charged with numerous proceeds-of-crime offences for allegedly directing The Commission's money-laundering operation from his address at Villawood, in Sydney's west.
The 34-year-old was released on bail in late October when court documents revealed the scale of the allegations, with a total of $13.2 million said to have been laundered on 37 separate occasions between May 4 and June 24.
The police case against Nguyen largely relies on encrypted messages sent by co-accused Khalid Hassan Mohamed on the encrypted messaging platform Threema.
Mohamed was arrested on July 25 after allegedly being found with 12kg of cocaine, $15,000 and an encrypted communications device.
The group's standard practice was to leave up to 50kg of cocaine unattended in pre-specified locations to be picked up by the purchaser in a "dead drop", police allege.
Nguyen was allegedly notified via Threema to pick up the cash which was taken to his home, counted and laundered.
"I’ve got coin to pass you later today," Mohamed allegedly said in one message.
Police allege Nguyen's movements in his white Audi RS3 and white Toyota Camry, both of which were seen on CCTV, matched the requests made through the app.
"The accused is recorded moving multiple large bags, believed to be the proceeds of crime in and out of his unit following a drug supply, and prior to laundering the proceeds of the drug sales," investigators said.
Footage is alleged to show Nguyen carrying paper bags, cooler bags, shopping bags and backpacks in and out of his residence.
On June 29, he allegedly sent a photo of 14 bundles of cash to Mohamed.
"This is the weirdest way I’ve received coins lol," the message read, according to court documents.
Multiple images of money-counting machines showing the amounts of cash from each dead drop were also allegedly sent through the app.
Nguyen has been hit with 37 counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and one count of participating in a criminal group.
He is yet to enter a plea to the charges.
Nguyen was bailed after agreeing to wear an ankle bracelet and being placed under house arrest.
His sister put up $1 million using her two properties as surety, while she and his brother in law also put up funds to be forfeited if Nguyen does not appear in court.
Nguyen and Mohamed will next come before Parramatta Local Court on November 14.
