Nearly $2 million in cash and assets linked to an alleged interstate drug syndicate have been restrained following court orders in Brisbane, marking a major win for an AFP-led proceeds of crime investigation.
Orders made by the Brisbane District Court on Wednesday, 5 February 2026, followed a long-running investigation by the Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) into an alleged criminal network involved in the trafficking and manufacture of illicit drugs across Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
The assets were originally seized by the Australian Federal Police in July 2022 during an operation that dismantled the alleged syndicate. Subsequent investigations focused on tracing ownership of the assets, which were suspected to be the proceeds of criminal activity.
The court ordered the forfeiture of more than $1.7 million in cash discovered hidden under a bed at a Brisbane property belonging to the former partner of an alleged syndicate member. Additional orders were made restraining other seized assets, including a boat and further cash, valued at about $235,000.
AFP Commander Jason Kennedy said targeting criminal profits was critical to disrupting organised crime.
“Taking the profit out of crime strikes at one of its biggest drivers,” Commander Kennedy said. “Money made through criminal activity is often used to fund further offending, so removing those funds helps protect the community.”
He said criminals who lived lavishly off illegal gains were exploiting the wider community. “That is an affront to hard-working Australians who do the right thing every day,” he said.
Australia’s proceeds of crime laws allow authorities to restrain and confiscate assets linked to criminal activity through civil court processes, even in cases where there is no related criminal prosecution. These powers include forfeiture, unexplained wealth and pecuniary penalty orders.
Once legal proceedings are finalised, confiscated assets are liquidated by the Australian Financial Security Authority, with funds deposited into the Commonwealth Confiscated Assets Account. The Attorney-General can then redistribute the money to support crime prevention, intervention and other law enforcement initiatives.
The CACT brings together the AFP, AUSTRAC, the Australian Taxation Office, Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to target the financial foundations of serious and organised crime.
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