Police seize assets worth $70m

POLICE have seized more than $70 million –– mostly cash – linked to an international pyramid scheme in China and Canada.

The High Court has approved a settlement between police and Xiaohua (known as Edward) Gong that enables the forfeiture of over $70m.

It is New Zealand’s largest ever forfeiture under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009.

In a statement, police said they first restrained the property in March 2017 following an investigation into suspicious funds deposited in New Zealand bank accounts between 2009 and 2016.

The funds were identified as being profits from the pyramid scheme based in China and Canada, they said.

Detective Inspector Craig Hamilton said Mr Gong is based in Canada and the money was transferred to New Zealand to conceal its source.

“This settlement is a fantastic result and we thank both the Chinese and Canadian authorities for their assistance in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion,” Detective Inspector Hamilton said.

The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 allows police to restrain and forfeit assets acquired or derived from the proceeds of crime.

Police said the forfeited property in this case includes over $68m in cash and a property in East Tamaki Heights.

“This is the largest forfeiture of proceeds of crime ever secured in New Zealand and it reflects the expertise of New Zealand Police when investigating complex multijurisdictional money laundering at the most serious level,” Mr Hamilton said.

“New Zealand will never be a safe haven for proceeds of crime.