Malek Alhmedai has admitted to handling millions of dollars derived from illegal tobacco transactions in Queensland.
The 51-year-old was operating a rental vehicle when he was stopped by law enforcement near Newcastle, where authorities uncovered $4 million concealed within the car.
Alhmedai is scheduled to face sentencing in July.
In a New South Wales court, a man has confessed to managing $4 million in cash linked to unlawful tobacco sales in Queensland.
Malek Alhmedai, originally from Victoria, was pulled over while driving a hire vehicle in Heatherbrae, located north of Newcastle, in December 2024.
Upon being stopped, police inquired, “Is there anything in the vehicle that you shouldn’t possess?” to which Alhmedai responded, “maybe $2 million” from his currency exchange business in Victoria.
This exchange was part of the evidence presented in the Newcastle District Court after Alhmedai entered his guilty plea.
The money trader from Victoria explained to the police that he could not leave such a large sum in his shop, necessitating its transport.
Following a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a substantial quantity of cash. Alhmedai mentioned that he had not counted the money and was merely estimating the amount he was carrying.
The total cash found amounted to $4,007,425, leading to Alhmedai’s guilty plea for handling proceeds from criminal activity.
According to the police report, Alhmedai, along with two tobacco retailers in Brisbane, had been under observation as part of Project Magnir, an extensive investigation conducted by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).
The ACIC had been monitoring tobacco shops in Burpengary and Strathpine, Queensland, both of which had been previously raided by Queensland Health, resulting in the seizure of numerous illegal cigarettes.
Records indicate that investigators tracked Alhmedai after he arrived in Brisbane on a flight from Melbourne at 6:46 AM on December 20, 2024.
After landing, he rented a vehicle, which was loaded with cash, before heading south, ultimately leading to his arrest.
Further investigations were initiated after the cash was confiscated.
During the counting process, it was noted that many of the $50 notes appeared to be freshly issued and were arranged in sequential order.
The Reserve Bank of Australia examined the serial numbers and confirmed that these notes had been delivered to the cash-in-transit company Armaguard on November 26, 2024.
Armaguard identified that the cash deliveries were linked to businesses involved in tobacco sales.
In court, it was revealed that Alhmedai is an Iraqi national who possesses permanent residency in Australia.
He has no prior criminal history in either Australia or Iraq.
Currently, Alhmedai is on bail and is expected to be sentenced on July 3.
