AFP-led taskforce targeting organised crime’s deep pockets

The new multi-agency Criminal Asset Confiscation Taskforce will be launched today to continue the fight against organised crime through more intensive targeting of criminals, and seizing the wealth and assets they acquire as a result of their illegal activities.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) will join forces with the Australian Crime Commission (ACC), the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) in a focused and committed effort to identify and remove the profits derived from criminal activity.

AFP Commissioner Tony Negus said the taskforce will employ a proactive and innovative approach to asset confiscation, with intelligence, operations, legal, policy and other specialist resources from all participating agencies working together.

“Organised crime is driven by greed. By taking the profit out of crime, we remove the benefit that criminals obtain from exploiting the community,” he said.

“A key weapon for law enforcement is the ability to seize these profits from criminals, which also prevents them from reinvesting these profits to fund other criminal ventures.

“The taskforce will also work in partnership with State, Territory and international law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and litigate appropriate asset confiscation matters at the Commonwealth level.”

The taskforce will be managed from AFP national headquarters in Canberra, with regional taskforce teams located in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra. However, the taskforce will have the resources and ability to target criminals anywhere in Australia.

“The AFP will allocate 68 members to the taskforce including its existing Financial Investigations Teams, which are comprised of specialists such as forensic accountants and financial investigators trained in locating concealed wealth in Australian and overseas jurisdictions,” Commissioner Negus said.

The ATO has committed to contributing five tax officers into the taskforce teams to provide financial analysis support for taskforce investigations.

The ATO will also provide support to the taskforce through specific, dedicated auditing staff who – where the ATO considers it is appropriate – will take action on matters referred by the taskforce.

The ACC will co-locate six officers within the taskforce and also provide ongoing support through its Money Laundering determination and the National Criminal Intelligence Fusion Centre. Through Fusion intelligence gathering, the ACC will identify targets and provide the taskforce with strategic advice on money flows that impact on Australia.

The CDPP will continue with its legislated responsibility to commence and carry on litigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 as well as supporting the taskforce with ongoing advice.

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