https://7news.com.au/news/russian-nationals-charged-over-alleged-money-laundering-scheme-after-23-million-seized-c-13818921

Two Russian nationals accused of money laundering after more than $2 million in cash and cryptocurrency was seized on the Gold Coast have faced court.

Police will allege Dmitry Rimskiy, 49, and Alexandra Pavlovna Bugrova, 46, laundered money via hundreds of cash deposits at bank branches and ATMs across NSW, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia in 2022.

The deposits were allegedly kept below $10,000 in a bid to avoid detection by authorities.

A search of a Hope Island property and solicitor’s office in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast found $1.95 million in cash and $425,000 in cryptocurrency in December 2023, Federal Police said.

Substantial financial records were also located.

Rimskiy and Bugrova have each been charged with three counts of dealing in the proceeds of crime with money or property worth more than $1 million.

They were given bail on these charges ahead of a further mention in Southport Magistrates Court on June 3.

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said money laundering syndicates were sophisticated and operated a shadow economy of crime to increase their own wealth.

“They are buying homes, commercial property and living large without the financial pressures felt by ordinary Australians,” Det Supt Telfer said in a statement.

“The money that is laundered through our economy bankrolls their lavish lifestyles and funds future crime, such as more illicit drug importations and weapons trafficking.”