Police storm luxury waterfront unit and towers in Sydney CBD and Barangaroo 

Police have made a major arrest during an early morning raid as part of investigations into alleged money laundering and other illicit activities in Sydney’s CBD. 

Heavily armed officers executed search warrants at luxury waterfront units in Pyrmont and Barangaroo early Wednesday morning as part of an investigation into an alleged criminal syndicate operating in the CBD. 

Dramatic footage obtained by Nine News shows police storming into a Pyrmont unit at an apartment complex on Pirrama Road, where they arrested a 34-year-old man.

Wearing a T-shirt, shorts and hiding his face with a jumper, the man was escorted from the complex in handcuffs as shocked neighbours out on their early morning walks watched on.

He was taken to The Rocks Police Station, where he is expected to be charged with managing the proceeds of crime.

Police executed further search warrants at Barangaroo and Chifley Tower in the CBD.

Officers allegedly seized cocaine, cash, documentation, and other items for further forensic examination during the raids. 

‘This investigation is still underway, there are more facets and this is just the first stage,’ Organised Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.

‘What we’re alleging is that members of certain groups in Sydney are providing money to people to facilitate the the laundering of those proceeds into other activities such as buying property, luxury watches, hiring motor vehicles and renting very expensive premises in Sydney to hide the origin of those funds.’

‘This investigation is fascinating as it shows the depth and scale of the movement of monies using business structures and other methods to hide the unlawful gains.’

Heavily armed police stormed the Pyrmont unit around 6.30am on Wednesday as part of ongoing inquiries into an alleged criminal syndicate operating in the CBD.

Organised Crimes Squad detectives established Strike Force City in July to investigate the activities of a syndicate allegedly involved in laundering large amounts of cash through several businesses located in Sydney’s CBD. 

Their inquiries uncovered a syndicate allegedly using cash to fund the purchase of investment properties and operating costs of other associated businesses.

Detective Superintendent Critchlow said a vehicle stopped earlier in the year resulted in $250,000 in cash and other evidence being seized. 

‘Today’s search warrants uncovered some mobile telephones, some documents and records,’ he said.

The man has been taken to the Rocks Police Station, where he’s expected to be charged

Police will allege the man arrested has a number of associations with the criminal element of Sydney, which will be investigated further.

‘There are also other allegations in this investigation in relation to the misuse of Covid vaccination certificates and forgery of official documents,’  Detective Superintendent Critchlow added.

‘This inquiries will continue and we certainly seek the the public’s assistance in relation to this.’