Clever police tactic crippling crime gangs seizing cars, boats, homes, cash

Fed up with organised crime gangs running amok, police have deployed a clever tactic to destroy them — and already it’s having a big impact.

Police are turning up the heat on organised crime gangs, grabbing 100 cars a year and properties at a rate of one a week ina blitz on their assets. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Police are turning up the heat on organised crime gangs, grabbing 100 cars a year and properties at a rate of one a week in a blitz on their assets.

Property seizures from criminals — mainly drug dealers and smugglers — have soared in the past six months.

Police warn they are stepping up their attacks to deprive offenders of investment capabilities and remove the incentives for lucrative, high-level crime.

The recent surge in seizures included a February raid on nine properties worth more than $5m from one syndicate head involved in a major hydroponic cannabis operation.

A luxury Ferrari, a Range Rover and an Audi are among vehicles recently confiscated by police.

Crime boss Paul Ngo, whose drug trade netted $1.9m in less than four months, had his $400,000 Lamborghini Huracan seized.

Paul Ngo had his $400,000 Lamborghini Huracan seized

Police also seized $7.7m in cash and two cars during raids over which Kayla Rezuk, 29, was charged with a string of drug trafficking offences. Ms Rezuk is yet to enter a formal plea to the charges and will face a committal mention on July 7.

Criminal proceeds squad detective Inspector Dan Ryan said undermining the profitability of crime was a massive disincentive.

It also removed capital required to run future criminal enterprises and locked up assets that could be used to fund legal defences, he said.

“That is money that cannot be used to fund another drug importation,” he said.

“If we want to erode their power base, we need to take their assets. I would expect it (use of the Confiscations Act) to increase.”

A Range Rover was also seized by police.

Figures show 247 homes were confiscated in the five years to last June. Authorities took away 529 cars — many of them high-end vehicles — in the same period. A total of $40.5m in cash was also restrained after actions begun by the Victoria Police criminal proceeds squad, which chases the profits of crime and unexplained wealth.

Other spoils seized were 182 bank accounts, 43 share portfolios and five boats.

Another $21m in personal property ranging from jewellery and handbags to alcohol and bullion was also confiscated.

Massive seizures pending court processes have continued in recent months.

“Cannabis crop houses are our bread and butter,” Inspector Ryan said.

A total of $16.6m in cash was seized between November last year and January this year.

Police seized cash and cars leading to Kayla Rezuk facing charges.

The criminal proceeds squad confiscated $2.2m from a Box Hill property, $5.2m was taken from a truck in South Melbourne by Echo task force investigators — which targets bikies and Middle-Eastern organised crime groups — and the drug task force found $1.5m at a property at Moonee Ponds.

Seventy per cent of the squad’s work is drug-related.

Inspector Ryan said criminals accepted the risk of jail time but found it harder to come to terms with having their assets removed.

“They’ve done two years (in jail) but they’ve made a million. It’s important that confiscation is part of that,” he said. “Criminals who think drug trafficking is great now can pay the penalty later.”

Inspector Ryan said another important element of the work was assisting victims.

More than $29m in compensation has been returned to victims of sexual assaults, violent crimes, deceptions and other offences since 1997.

The criminal proceeds squad operates with the Office of Public Prosecutions and the Department of Justice’s Assets Confiscation Operations.