A Manurewa convenience store owner is facing five money laundering charges after allegedly purchasing stolen goods for sale in their store.
After a year-long investigation into the alleged actions at the business, police this week executed a search warrant at the dairy.
The man, 27, was then charged. Area Commander for Counties Manukau Inspector Warrick Adkin said police had been investigating the allegations since July last year “particularly where stolen goods may be offered for purchase at cheap prices to shop owners”.
“While I can’t comment on specifics of this investigation, the use of our covert operators has been pivotal to progressing the case.”
During a search warrant at the convenience store in Manurewa, police said it located various items of interest, including a small quantity of illicit tobacco.
Information obtained in the investigation this week also led police to execute a search warrant at a shop in Mount Wellington and a residential address in the south Auckland area.
Police said it had uncovered further items of interest that will assist in ongoing inquiries.
“We are warning retailers who are choosing to use unofficial supply chains or looking to purchase goods that are likely stolen,” Adkin added.
“Police are not only investigating those committing theft and other retail crime offences, but also those that are buying or receiving these goods.
“Retailers need to be aware that by engaging in this behaviour they are creating a market for stolen goods, which in turn makes themselves and their fellow retailers targets for offending.”
In a video released by police, Adkin said: “Retailers who fail to ask questions when purchasing products from unofficial suppliers at heavily reduced prices should expect our attention.”
Police said all available tools would be used to investigate and prosecute retail crime.
People with information on stolen goods could pass this on to police via 105, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers.
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