Sydney security firm an alleged 'front' for $80m organised crime syndicate
A couple who operated a south-west Sydney security firm have been arrested over their alleged role in running the business as a "front" for an $80 million money laundering syndicate linked to organised crime groups in Australia and abroad.
Gagandeep Pahwa, 30, was taken by surprise when he was met by detectives as he arrived at the Guildford office of Assure Protection Services on Thursday.
Investigators seized around $400,000 in cash at Guildford, a number of money counting machines, a small amount of drugs, computers, three vehicles and designer clothing.
Mr Pahwa's domestic partner and the director of the company behind the security business, Gopali Prtha Dahl, 30, was also arrested, along with another 29-year-old employee.
The trio were targeted by investigators from the NSW Criminal Groups Squad, as part of a long-running and complex investigation into an alleged money laundering syndicate that is believed to have handled $80 million in the space of three to four years.
All three are expected to be charged with money laundering offences overnight, while police will allege Mr Pahwa was the ringleader, primarily responsible for laundering the $80 million.
It is understood the operation is alleged to involve the physical collection of cash by the security business, which offers security services for retail, industrial and commercial industries.
The collected cash was then moved through a series of financial transactions in order to disguise its origins and to "give it legitimacy," police said.
The cash was then allegedly withdrawn and returned to organised crime syndicates or remitted offshore.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Read described the operation as "complex" and said all of the $80 million was believed to be the proceeds of organised crime.
He said police believe the security business was operated "as a semi-legitimate business, but its primary function was to act as a front for the money laundering operation".
"We believe we will uncover further evidence of money laundering, perhaps over a longer period ... there will certainly be more arrests," Chief Inspector Read said.
Police are yet to reveal the type of organised crime the money may have been linked to.
On Thursday morning police conducted search warrants at the Guildford office of the security business, where Mr Pahwa and the other man were both arrested.
Ms Dahl was arrested at a home in Merrylands, where a search warrant was also executed. A third office, that of an accountant on Pitt St in Sydney's CBD, was also raided and documents seized.
Company records reveal Mr Pahwa was the director and secretary of the company that owns Assure Protection Services (formerly Sharp Eyes Security Services Pty Ltd) from June 2016 to February 2018.
He is no longer listed in an official capacity, however it is understood police will allege he and his co-accused played a key role in the daily operations of the Guildford business.
The Assure Protection Services business name is owned by Pahwa Group of Companies Pty Ltd, of which Ms Dahl is the company director, secretary and sole shareholder.
Police uncovered the alleged syndicate while conducting an unrelated investigation into large-scale drug supply in south-west Sydney, which began in February last year.
Three unrelated men were arrested over the drug-supply syndicate earlier this year and remain before the courts.
While the two alleged criminal groups are unrelated, it is understood there were a number of "commonalities" that caused detectives to delve further, ultimately blowing the lid off the alleged money laundering network.