Police in New South Wales have arrested three men involved in a sophisticated AU$10 million counterfeit luxury goods operation, seizing a purple Lamborghini among other high-end vehicles and fake merchandise.
The counterfeit items sold through social media platforms included Rolex watches, Cartier bracelets, Louis Vuitton bags, and more. Authorities executed search warrants on Wednesday at homes in Fairfield East, Merrylands, and Guildford, uncovering nine luxury cars valued at around AU$3 million, including multiple Lamborghinis and a Mercedes AMG.
Over 500 counterfeit luxury goods were confiscated, along with more than AU$250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm. Investigators revealed the group moved approximately AU$9.75 million in profits through multiple bank accounts.
The three men, aged 30 and 33, were charged with offenses such as recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group. All were denied bail and are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
Organised Crime Squad Detective Superintendent Peter Faux emphasized the crackdown: “Behind the filters and followers was a sophisticated criminal enterprise exploiting digital platforms to sell counterfeit luxury goods. This kind of organised crime will not go unchecked.”
The seized assets are now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission. Executive Director Bennett stated, “We’ve commenced proceedings to recover millions of dollars, aiming to return that money to the people of New South Wales.”
This case highlights the growing trend of organized crime leveraging social media to traffic counterfeit luxury goods, prompting ongoing efforts to dismantle these operations.
