Auckland raids: $ 450k Lamborghini Huracan, millions in assets seized after money laundering investigation

Police arrested six people and confiscated millions in assets after morning raids in Auckland today.

Police seized seven high-end luxury vehicles, a boat and three motorcycles, with a combined value of more than $ 1.2 million.

The luxury vehicles include a $ 450,000 Lamborghini Huracan and three new 2020 Mercedes-Benz models, including a $ 280,000 G-wagon, police said.

Three properties in Half Moon Bay, Te Atatū, and New Lynn, worth at least $ 3.3 million, were seized, and about $ 250,000 in cash was also seized.

The arrests are the result of Operation Brookings, a long-running Financial Crime Group investigation into money laundering activity.

Detective Superintendent Iain Chapman said investigators targeted professional facilitators who allowed organized crime to occur.

Four men and two women, aged between 29 and 65, have been charged with money laundering crimes.

Organized crime groups come in all shapes and sizes in New Zealand, Chapman said.

They had previously targeted groups like the Comancheros in operations like Operation Nova, he said.

“This group today was a professional money laundering service. Their job was to launder funds.”

They used a semi-legitimate business that would remit funds, he said.

A significant amount of money going abroad went to China, he said.

Chapman said he was proud of the investigative team that had operated at all levels of Covid-19 alert and delivered what he called a “significant blow” to this organized crime effort.

“We want New Zealand to be the safest country and our part is to make New Zealand the most difficult place for criminals to do business.”

“Today’s action is going to send a really clear message.”

Chapman believed they had taken the group by surprise.

“We were certainly out of bed before them.”

Much of the profits laundered in the system was generated by drugs, he said.

A 40-year-old man is expected in Auckland District Court tomorrow and the other five are due to appear on Tuesday.