AFP helps bust years-long $542m money laundering racket

Australian police have helped dismantle a major global money laundering network allegedly serving cyber criminals worldwide.

A money laundering racket worth hundreds of millions of dollars has been crippled by an international police sting aided by Aussie cops.

The offshore money laundering operation, known as ‘AudiA6’ is alleged to have washed $542m for cyber criminals since 2009, according to the Australian Federal Police.

AFP officers joined the investigation in November 2025 when “investigators uncovered activity by two foreign administrators who allegedly ran a money laundering service for cyber criminals from Georgia,” a spokesman said.

Police say the service allowed people to use illegally-obtained crypto-currency obtained by other cyber criminals, who would ‘clean’ the money and convert it into real cash.

For their troubles, the alleged launderers would charge between three and 10 per cent commission.

On June 10, officers raided three buildings in Georgia, where they arrested two men, took down 25 domains and seized more than 30 internet services.

Law enforcement agencies from France, German, Iceland and the United States also helped take the servers down.

AFP cybercrime commander Graeme Marshall said the AFP and other partner agencies from around the globe had the “same goal” to disrupt cybercrime.

“The work of our investigators and analysts in this operation was valuable to our international partners, and I’m proud of their efforts that contributed to this outcome in Europe,” Mr Marshall said,

“Cyber criminals are active around the world, and we will always work together to disrupt their illegal activity.

“The strong relationship between our law enforcement partners is critical to achieving this goal. “

In 2024, AudiA6 was advertised on cybercrime forum ‘Dark2Web’ and allegedly laundered part of a ransom paid by an Aussie business in 2024.

Jack Nivison is a breaking news reporter at NewsWire. He began his journalism career in 2023 as a freelancer for the New England Times, before joining News Corp as a cadet in late 2024. In October 2025 he joined News Local as the Macarthur reporter before transitioning to NewsWire in March 2026.