Firos El Kotob charged over $100 million money laundering syndicate
Detectives have charged a sixth man as part of investigations into an alleged $100 million money-laundering syndicate operating in western Sydney.
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A sixth man, Firos El Kotob, has been charged over a $100 million money-laundering syndicate in Guildford West and Merrylands.
In February 2018, detectives from the Criminal Groups Squad established Strike Force Tippet to investigate the large-scale supply of prohibited drugs and related organised crime offences in western Sydney.
Detectives also identified an alleged money-laundering syndicate and started inquiries.
Following those inquiries, Strike Force Tippet investigators arrested four men – aged 29, 31 and two aged 30 – and a 30-year-old woman in July 2019 after they raided Assure Protection Services in Guildford.
The premises allegedly acted as a front to launder $100 million from organised crime groups.
The two men aged 29 and 30 were arrested at a business in Guildford West last July and the 30-year-old woman was arrested at a home in Merrylands West.
Gagandeep Pahwa, Nitin Kapila, Gopali Dahl, Bipin Thapa and Manminder Singh been charged and remain before the courts.
On February 12, 44-year-old El Kotob, who also goes by the name Simon Yacoub, was issued a court attendance notice at a Silverwater facility for knowingly directing activities of criminal group and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime intent to conceal.
Police allege the Banktown man organised the collection of large sums of money and directed other members of the syndicate to deposit the cash at various financial institutions before it was remitted to China.
El Kotob appeared at Parramatta Local Court today.
Investigations under Strike Force Tippet are continuing.