<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
A 38-year-old man is facing criminal charges after allegedly being caught at Hobart Airport with more than $150,000 cash in his luggage.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Tasmania Police allege the find was made during a routine baggage check at the airport on Thursday morning.
It is alleged more than $150,000 cash was hidden inside a green supermarket shopping bag in the man’s checked-in luggage.
Another bundle of cash was discovered inside the lining of the bag, police alleged.
The man is from Alexandria in Sydney and was about to board a plane home.
A 38-year-old man is facing criminal charges after allegedly being caught at Hobart Airport with more than $150,000 cash in his luggage
He was arrested at the airport after allegedly being unable to give a sufficient explanation about why he had that amount of money.
He was charged with one count of dealing with property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Read Related Also: Ex-Pentagon police officer gets decades in prison for killing 2 men he shot ‘in the back’ for breaking into cars in his building
The maximum penalty for the crime is three years in jail.
AFP Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said the agency worked closely with Tasmania Police and Hobart Airport to ensure domestic and international flights were not used as transit routes for criminal and illicit activities.
‘The AFP, together with Tasmania Police and our law enforcement partners across Australia, will continue to keep a watchful eye across our airports and borders,’ Det Sergeant Hardcastle said.
‘We will continue to ensure all airports remain a hostile environment for criminal syndicates to prevent their illicit activities.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Tasmania Police allege the find was made during a routine baggage check at the airport on Thursday morning
‘This arrest should serve as a serious warning to anyone attempting to travel across our country with large and suspicious amounts of cash – the AFP will target and identify you, seizing your alleged illicit wealth and bring you to justice.’
Commander Ian Whish-Wilson from Tasmania Police’s Crime and Intelligence Command said police conduct ongoing screening at air and sea ports to make these entry and exit points as hostile as possible for any criminal activity.
‘We’ll continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure criminals aren’t profiting from illegal activity in Tasmania,’ Commander Whish-Wilson said.
The cash has been seized by the police.
