More than $580,000 has been forfeited to the Commonwealth following an Australian Federal Police-led investigation into an immigration visa fraud scheme linked to a 61-year-old man from New South Wales’ Central Coast.
The forfeiture follows a complex multi-agency investigation into the alleged exploitation of Australia’s immigration system, including the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.
The investigation, led by the Australian Federal Police and involving the Australian Border Force, the Department of Home Affairs, AUSTRAC and the Australian Taxation Office, uncovered significant financial benefits allegedly obtained through fraudulent visa-related activities.
Authorities said financial analysis identified hundreds of thousands of dollars flowing into bank accounts linked to the man. Investigators alleged the payments were received for facilitating visa applications that contained false information submitted to immigration authorities.
Some of the funds were subsequently used to acquire additional assets, prompting action by the AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) to restrain and confiscate the proceeds.
The Supreme Court of New South Wales ordered the forfeiture of $117,000 on 1 June 2026 after the man admitted the funds were proceeds of offences committed between July 2017 and May 2020.
The offences included providing false documents to officials exercising powers under the Migration Act in connection with applications by non-citizens seeking to remain in Australia.
The man was sentenced in the NSW District Court in December 2025 to four years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two and a half years.
In total, $583,146.44 has now been forfeited to the Commonwealth.
The funds will be transferred to Australia’s Confiscated Assets Account, where they can be redirected towards crime prevention initiatives, law enforcement capabilities and community programs.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Colin Hunt said targeting the financial benefits of criminal activity was a key part of disrupting organised and serious crime.
“People who defraud the Commonwealth are directly attacking the integrity of Australia’s social and financial systems,” he said.
“Removing unlawfully obtained property is critical to disrupting and deterring criminal behaviour and preventing further harm to the community.”
The Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce, which combines the expertise of multiple government agencies, has restrained more than $1.3 billion in criminal assets since July 2019, including real estate, luxury vehicles, artwork and yachts.
The AFP said it would continue pursuing criminal proceeds to ensure unlawful activity does not generate financial rewards.
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