Four arrested over alleged criminal links in Villawood detention centre
Four men who were allegedly about to be deported from Villawood Detention Centre have been charged over an alleged scheme involving fraudulent credit cards and stolen cars.
The Express
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Four male immigration detainees who were allegedly set to be deported have been charged with using fraudulent credit cards to buy stolen cars using phones while in detention.
Two Lebanese males, one New Zealand male and a Sudanese male aged between 20 and 30 are expected to be charged after police executed a search warrant at Villawood Detention Centre early on Friday.
Strike force investigators assisted by Bankstown and Blacktown police, the Bass Hill Region Enforcement Squad, the Dog Unit and the Australian Border Force arrested the males after they allegedly seized mobile phones connected to the alleged fraud and illicit drugs.
Sutherland Shire police commander Jason Box said detectives began investigating the alleged fraud after a local resident reported their vehicle stolen.
“Sutherland Shire Police Area Command have been investigating a number of motor vehicles that have been obtained by fraudulent means,” Det Superintendent Box said.
“Four people were arrested and have been taken to Bankstown police station to be charged with various fraud offences.”
Det Supt Box said one of the allegedly stolen vehicles had been recovered but others were still unaccounted for.
“We will allege the phones in the detention centre were being used to facilitate the purchases using stolen credit cards,” Det Supt Box said.
“(These alleged victims) have parted with property that’s quite valuable to them and it’s not always an easy proposition to be financially reimbursed.”
The four detainees were bail refused and expected to face Bankstown Local Court on Friday afternoon.
Det Supt Box confirmed the men were not refugees or asylum seekers.
“Their status was being assessed as to whether they met the criteria to remain in the country,” Det Supt Box said.
“Pending successful appeals they were ready to be deported.”
The raids follow investigations by Task Force Leahy, established by Sutherland Police Area Command last month to probe activities of an alleged criminal syndicate believed to be operating from within the Villawood centre.
“Their inquiries revealed the group were involved in the purchase of motor vehicles using fraudulently obtained credit cards as well as the distribution of illicit drugs within the facility,” the police spokesman said.
Police said investigations are continuing.
More to come.