Yanzhou Zhu caught with $1.2m in suspected crime cash after NSW police intercept on Pacific Hwy

A Sydney man who took a one-way flight to Brisbane before driving south with more than $1.2m in cash has pleaded guilty after being stopped by police on the Central Coast.

Yanzhou Zhu, 41, pleaded guilty in the Wyong Local Court to the charge of dealing with property which was the proceeds of crime. Picture: NewsLocal

A man caught ferrying more than $1.2m in suspected criminal cash across state lines in a hired car has pleaded guilty after being intercepted by police on the Central Coast.

Yanzhou Zhu, 41, of Gordon, pleaded guilty in Wyong Local Court to the charge of dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

According to police facts, Zhu had on several occasions taken one-way flights between Sydney and Brisbane.

Once in Brisbane, he would rent a car from a local company and drive back to Sydney before returning the vehicle.

On May 6 last year, Zhu boarded a one-way flight to Brisbane from Sydney and was seen on CCTV carrying a large hard-bodied suitcase.

Yanzhou Zhu, 41, arriving at the Wyong Local Court. Picture: NewsLocal

After landing, he rented a Toyota RAV at the airport and began driving south into NSW, eventually reaching Coffs Harbour.

He checked in for the night at the Quality Hotel on Elizabeth St.

Zhu was found with $1.3m cash in a suitcase in the boot of his hire car on the M1 freeway. Picture: NSW Police

The next morning, Zhu placed a large suitcase in the boot of the vehicle and continued travelling southbound.

Police began surveilling Zhu in Morisset at 11am and followed him until just before 1.30pm, when he was pulled over on the Pacific Highway at Warnervale.

An officer approached the vehicle and identified himself as part of the organised crime squad. He told Zhu they had reasonable grounds to believe he had something in the car he should not have.

$1.3m cash in a suitcase was found in the boot of his hire car on the M1 freeway. Picture: NSW Police

Police searched the vehicle and handcuffed Zhu to prevent him from fleeing.

During the search, officers found a large coloured hard-bodied suitcase, a duffel bag and several reusable grocery bags.

Inside was a large quantity of Australian currency, mostly bundled in $50 notes.

Zhu told police he had hired the car in Brisbane, had it for two days, and was on his way to Artarmon.

At the conclusion of the search, police seized a smart watch, an iPhone 15, a Huawei P30 Pro, a boarding pass, a key chain with several keys, a large suitcase and $1,282,765 in cash.

Zhu was taken to Wyong Police Station.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

Originally published as Yanzhou Zhu caught with $1.2m in suspected crime cash after NSW police intercept on Pacific Hwy