Update: Whittlesea man extradited after alleged involvement in Epping money laundering syndicate

A Whittlesea man accused of being involved in a money laundering syndicate has been extradited from NSW after he allegedly tried to board an international flight.

UPDATE TUESDAY: A MAN will be extradited from NSW after police alleged he was involved in a significant money laundering syndicate operating in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

A Whittlesea man, 35, was arrested at Sydney Airport on February 10 by Australian Federal Police after attempting to board an international flight.

He faced a Sydney court on Monday, where Victoria Police Criminal Proceeds Squad detectives successfully applied to extradite him.

The man has been charged with knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and trafficking a drug of dependence.

He is expected to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The Whittlesea man was previously arrested on February 9 along with four other people.

Detectives seized almost $1.2m of cash during warrants at Whittlesea, Kalkallo and Epping homes on February 9.

“The investigation followed information provided to police in relation to money laundering and drug trafficking by a syndicate in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and remains ongoing,” Victoria Police spokeswoman Natalie Webster said.

The investigation is ongoing.

FRIDAY: $1m in cash has been seized from a Kalkallo house in a major investigation into alleged money laundering.

Detectives from the criminal proceeds squad uncovered the cash on Thursday and arrested five people as part of their six-month investigation of an alleged northern suburbs crime syndicate.

By Friday, two people from Epping — a 29-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman — had been charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a drug of dependence and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The pair are due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court in May.

Detectives also carried out raids on properties at Whittlesea and two at Epping on Wednesday morning.

“During the search of the Kalkallo address, police located approximately $1m cash throughout the property,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

Investigators found cash, gold, jewellery and drugs — believed to be methamphetamine and opium — in the other searches.

Police said clandestine drug laboratories were found in one of the Epping properties.

Charges are expected to be laid against a 35-year-old Whittlesea man, a 36-year-old Kalkallo man, and a 31-year-old Kalkallo woman.

Police said it was expected they would be charged with drug and proceeds of crime offences.

They said the investigation remained ongoing.

Detective Supt Geri Porter of Victoria Police crime command said the arrests and seizures were another demonstration of work being done to target money-laundering syndicates.

“$1m is not spare change – this is a significant seizure and one that will prevent that money being reinvested to cause further harm to the community,” Insp. Porter said.

“We’re also again seeing the links between organised crime syndicates and drugs, and being able to effectively shut down two drug labs and seize a quantity of what’s believed to be methamphetamine is highly satisfying.”

The Herald Sun last week revealed how police had taken $120m in assets from criminals in the past year.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppers.vic.com.au.