New law reforms makes it easier for authorities to seize proceeds of crime from drug dealers
New reforms that come into effect this month will make it easier for police to seize cars, wine, boats, houses and other assets belonging to drug dealers.
Police & Courts
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Serious drug dealers will be hit where it hurts most – their hip pocket.
New law reforms have come into effect this month which will force prescribed drug offenders to provide a register of their assets, making it easier for authorities to make seizure orders.
Police Assistant Commissioner John Venditto said the laws will ease the workload for investigators who previously had to independently establish the links between prescribed drug offenders and their properties and assets.
“Now the offender has to tell us at the beginning,” Mr Venditto said.
“Also, we can now hold on to (restrained) property longer before we make a decision … before we commence proceedings.”
Additionally, the reform will force third-parties and banks to provide the offender’s personal information to authorities within a matter of days; as opposed to when it suited their interests.
Police have already been able to seize more assets in the first nine months of this financial year than the entirety of 2023/2024.
Mr Venditto boasted this year they have already issued 61 restraining orders, resulting in nearly $65 million seized.
“That means 52 houses or properties have been restrained – probably a highlight of the $2.8m house in eastern suburbs – and then you have 51 vehicles., some worth about 2.3 million,” he said.
“Also, nearly three quarters of $1 million in cash and the list goes on and on, including gold, silver, bullion, etc.”
The assets seized will be put into the Justice Rehabilitation Fund.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher said this pocket of money is invested into various drug diversion and preventive measures, which are run by the Department of Corrections.
However, Mr Maher said the money seized from serious drug dealers will be put towards preventing young children from slipping down the wrong path.
“We’re using money confiscated from serious drug dealers to turn young kids away from a life of crime,” he said.
The Act responsible for seizure of criminal assets is reviewed every three-years.
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