Strike Force Aratula was set up in January to investigate an organised criminal network allegedly selling e-tags linked to falsified payment methods, such as fraudulent credit cards, via the dark web.
Investigators believe the scheme has been in operation for up to five years, with 800 tags in circulation – the majority having been sold to taxi drivers.
From about 5am yesterday, police executed four search warrants in Smithfield, Blacktown, Punchbowl, and Granville, in Sydney’s west and south-west.
A 37-year-old man was arrested in Smithfield and charged with 204 fraud-related offences, dealing with the proceeds of crime, and participate in a criminal group.
He was refused bail and will appear in court today.
In Blacktown, police arrested a 38-year-old man who was charged with 32 fraud-related offences, accessory before the fact of dealing with proceeds of crime, and participate in a criminal group.
He was refused bail and appeared in court yesterday.
In Punchbowl, police arrested a 28-year-old man who was charged with 35 fraud-related offences and participating in a criminal group.
He was refused bail to appear in court today.
During the searches, police seized 74 e-tags, numerous toll notices, electronic devices, $25,000 in cash, and a 2019 Mercedes AMG coupe.
While police were executing the search warrant at the Granville address, a delivery of allegedly fraudulently purchased e-tags arrived.
Police will allege in court the syndicate harvested up to 10,000 compromised identities and banking details – which were linked to the tags – from an international website for about $150,000.
Following the arrests, police also conducted a compliance operation at a taxi marshalling area at Sydney Airport’s domestic terminal.
During the operation, police spoke to 200 taxi drivers, and confiscated 12 e-tags believed to be a part of the fraudulent scheme.
The drivers identified with an allegedly fraudulent tag were spoken to and released pending further inquiries.