ATM suppliers atm2go and Next Payments in battle for tobacco crime figure's business, court filings reveal
Two major private automated teller machine companies, atm2go and Next Payments, also appeared to have clocked the contraband enterprise.
The ATM suppliers went on to became entangled in a turf war to supply their machines to tobacco shops associated with Al Deleymi.
Nine months after Macquarie Group-backed Next Payments supplied their machines, Al Deleymi was stopped in a silver Ford Ranger utility in NSW with $530,000 cash — leading to him facing a NSW Crime Commission investigation over alleged handling of proceeds of crime.
The dealings have been uncovered by an ABC investigation into how private ATMs are fuelling the violent illegal tobacco trade and can be used by criminals to launder money.
The machines, which rake in transaction fees, are being sited inside tobacco shops to enable cash-only transactions for illegal tobacco facilitating tax evasion.
Shop operators can also do deals with suppliers to load the machines with their own cash — potentially laundering proceeds of crime.
ATM suppliers and the shop owners can receive a commission on every transaction.
The ABC has obtained court documents from a legal action sparked by the turf war between the ATM suppliers over Al Deleymi's business.
The documents reveal the normally secret returns generated by ATMs in tobacco shops, including how in some cases such machines do triple the business of a normal ATM.
Atm2go had entered into a deal to supply Al Deleymi with six machines in several south-east Queensland tobacco stores between February 2021 to March 2022, the documents allege.
But by June 2022, the deal appeared to sour, with all six atm2go machines switched off and unbolted.
Atm2go alleged Al Deleymi was then responsible for replacing their machines with eight ATMs from rival operation Next Payments.
In response, atm2go launched legal action against Al Deleymi claiming a breach of a five-year agreement for their machines.
Atm2go alleged it lost tens of thousands of dollars in business and faced costs for removing the machines — an amount totalling around $74,000.
Al Deleymi is alleged to have ignored atm2go's demand to remove Next Payments machines and reinstall theirs.
Do you know more about this story? Email Callinan.Rory@abc.net.au or Walsh.Liam@abc.net.au
To prove how much revenue was lost, atm2go offered up details of how fee deals for private ATMs are structured.
Atm2go stated it charged customers $2.50 for each cash withdrawal and that Al Deleymi would earn a cut of each transaction fee of up to $1.30.
One machine at a Caboolture tobacco store recorded 165 transactions daily throughout May 2022, while a second racked up 155. Together, they reaped daily average fees of $408.79.
This transaction rate dwarfs that of typical Australian ATMs, which record an average of only 38 cash withdrawals a day, according to Reserve Bank of Australia figures.
This high transaction rate came despite the presence of other ATMs nearby.
Al Deleymi did not file any defence in atm2go's lawsuit, and a default judgment was entered against him for almost $64,000.
The documents allege atm2go and Next Payments cut deals with the stores linked to Al Deleymi after May 2021 in Queensland.
At that time, he had been charged with offences in Queensland including conveying of tobacco products and dealing with property worth less than $100,000 suspected of being proceeds of crime.
He was convicted in 2024 and received a two-year good behaviour bond.
Following a 2022 raid on a Bundaberg tobacconist and vape store linked to him, Al Deleymi was also fined $4,000 for offences including unlawful supply of medicines and possession of a weapon.
Efforts to contact him have been unsuccessful.
Just four months after atm2go sued to recover money, Al Deleymi was stopped in in a silver Ford Ranger utility in New South Wales and was allegedly found with $530,000.
The seizure triggered the NSW Crime Commission to freeze funds in bank accounts linked to other tobacco shops tied to Al Deleymi and he faced charges of dealing with the proceeds of crime.
In June, Al Deleymi was found by a Sydney magistrate to have recklessly dealt with the proceeds of crime worth more than $100,000.
He had pleaded not guilty. He is due to be sentenced later this year.
Atm2go did not answer questions about the deals while Next Payments chief executive Tim Wildash declined to answer specific queries relating to Al Deleymi.
Mr Wildash previously said his company cooperated with authorities and was assisting a "live investigation".
He has rejected concerns about money laundering with his company machines but acknowledged issues involving the ATM industry and tobacco stores.
"This issue is bigger than any of us could have imagined three weeks ago," Mr Wildash said.
Al Deleymi, 29, was listed in 2023 court documents as living at a now derelict Morayfield property just north of Brisbane.
The address is also listed as a contact point for 21-year-old Mostafa Al Deleymi who was supplied with Next Payments ATMs, despite facing charges relating to illegal tobacco possession.
After he was caught with illegal tobacco in 2023 in Ingham, Mostafa Al Deleymi went on to establish a company called Replenishatm, which signed deals with Next Payments.
When the ABC visited the 1.8 acre Morayfield property last month, the brick home was empty and derelict with a large skip bin left in the front yard.
Piled up in the skip bin were empty cardboard boxes. Some were labelled with Chinese brands of cigarettes sold in tobacco shops.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
17 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Consumer confidence slumps on RBA defying market rate bets
Australians are saying they are less confident about their financial situation as well as feeling poorer about the national economy following the Reserve Bank's shock decision not to cut interest rates. Fresh figures released by ANZ-Roy Morgan shows consumer confidence slumped 2.1 points to 86.5 over the week since the RBA announced its decision on July 8. Worse still, more than 44 per cent of Australians are now saying they feel worse than this time last year, up 2 per cent from last week. ANZ economist Sophia Angala says the fall in confidence is likely due to the RBA shocking experts and markets by holding the cash rate at 3.85 per cent, instead of cutting it by a further 25 basis points as was widely expected. 'While the previous upward trend in consumer confidence is stalled for now, we expect a resumption of the improvement this year, as robust yearly growth in disposable incomes and further rate cuts flow through to households,' Ms Angala said. Meanwhile, Westpac is reporting consumer confidence rose slightly for the month of July up 0.6 per cent to 93.1. But Westpac consumer data shows Aussie mortgage holders felt worse following the RBA decision. Those surveyed at the start of month gave a score of 95.6 while those asked after the RBA's call scored 92. Anything over 100 is considered optimistic. Westpac head of Australian macro-forecasting Matthew Hassan said sentiment Australia's consumer sentiment recovery experienced another 'false start' in July. 'While the mood improved a touch for the month as a whole, responses over the survey week show a clear disappointment following the RBA's surprise move to leave rates on hold at its July meeting,' Mr Hassan says. 'This is the third time since late last year that events have conspired to undermine promising improvements in the consumer mood.' The falling consumer sentiment follows homeowners being left frustrated with the RBA after a widely anticipated rate cut was not passed down by the central bank. The RBA handed down its decision on Tuesday July 8 to hold interest rates, which some experts called a 'cruel blow' for households. It is at odds with key economists and all four major banks who previously predicted a cut of 25 basis points. Australia's cash rate remains at 3.85 per cent. bRight Agent co-founder Aaron Scott called the surprise hold a 'cruel blow' for millions of Australian homeowners. 'Despite the fact that a July cut would not have been enough to give most mortgage holders a meaningful reprieve, it would have been welcome by the millions of Aussies who are holding out for more cost-of-living relief,' he said. 'Nobody will be breaking out the Wagyu beef or shiraz. RBA governor Michele Bullock said the board was waiting to confirm whether inflation was 'still on track' awaiting the release of the more complete quarterly ABS data. 'The board decided to wait a few weeks to confirm that we're still on track to meet our inflation expectation,' she said. 'This is a very fluid situation and we will continue to watch the data here and overseas to see how it plays.
ABC News
22 minutes ago
- ABC News
Teenage girl critically hurt after being hit by car amid Monday Meets cruise event in Burswood
A teenage girl has been critically injured at a car cruise event in Perth, prompting local car enthusiasts to rally together to denounce hoon behaviour. Major Crash officers are investigating the incident near the Burswood Crown Casino precinct on Monday night. Police said a black Honda Civic struck a 17-year-old girl who was crossing Camfield Drive on foot just before 10pm. She was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital by ambulance and is being treated for critical injuries. The driver of the car, a 25-year-old man, was not injured and is assisting police. WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the incident was disappointing and dangerous and alleged speed was a factor. People had gathered in the Crown Casino car park on Monday night as part of an organised car cruise event that began in Jandakot earlier in the evening. The group organising the cruise, Monday Meets Perth, posted on social media saying they were still 'processing how to deal with the events of tonight going forward". 'Our thoughts and best wishes are with the people affected,' they wrote. Earlier in the night when advertising the event, which sees car enthusiasts drive around the city together, the group warned "hoon's number plates will be reported and video sent to police". The incident has sparked a strong reaction from members of Perth's motorist enthusiast scene, with several event coordinators denouncing poor behaviour. A video posted to social media on Tuesday morning from a Perth automotive photographer and car detailing business owner called out what they described as "hoon behaviour". "Everyone's got loved ones they want get home to safely. We don't need anymore numbers to be added to the tolls of deaths on the road. It's already high enough this year," they said. "You are not only endangering your own life if you have passengers you're also endangering their lives. You're also endangering the people around you. It's just not worth it. "Think about the people that you are affecting … your actions have repercussions. "Keep the stupid shit at home. Keep it clean at the meets, don't bring dramas in the meets, don't be a dickhead at the meets, just be respectful." Footage of the incident had been posted and shared on several accounts on Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook. That prompted an angry reaction from Premier Roger Cook, who vowed to keep pursuing "post and boast" laws that aim to prevent people sharing and promoting alleged criminal activity online. "Our post and boast laws will ensure these things aren't put out there in the public domain on social media, increasing the level of awareness and increasing their popularity," he said. Police are urging anyone with information, or anyone who saw the crash, to contact Crime Stoppers.
News.com.au
32 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Is this real?': Arnott's drops big Shapes announcement
A popular Aussie snack is about to be released in a gluten-free version — a move foodies are calling 'the best news of 2025'. Arnott's released a gluten-free version of Barbecue Shapes last year, but after the move captured the heart of Australia's coeliac community, it left some wondering if other favourites would follow suit. Now, more than a year on, a new gluten-free flavour is set to hit the market — Chicken Crimpy. Australians who follow a gluten-free diet, or who can't eat the protein found in wheat, barley and rye for health reasons, have been begging for a coeliac safe version since Arnott's first launched its allergen-friendly range. 'Hope you will be making other flavours like Pizza and Chicken in gluten free. My little girls love them and can't have them at the moment,' one said. Another pleaded: 'Please bring out Chicken Crimpy Shapes.' 'Please do gluten free Chicken Crimpy, I'm begging,' someone else asked. Another said: 'I miss Chicken Crimpy.' The brand has listened, with the item set to hit a range of stores including Coles, Woolworths and independent retailers later this month. Ranita Cowled, Arnott's Growth & Innovation Director, told 'Arnott's Shapes Chicken Crimpy has long been one of the top performers in our Shapes range. It's a flavour Aussies know and love, so when we first set out to expand our gluten free savoury range, it was always on our radar. 'After successfully launching Arnott's Gluten Free Jatz and Barbecue Shapes, we felt the time was right to bring Chicken Crimpy into the mix. It has a unique and much-loved melt-in-your mouth texture, making it a natural next step in making more of our most-loved snacks accessible to everyone.' Ms Cowled said a range of factors go into deciding what products are adapted from the standard to the gluten-free range. This includes consumer insights, but also whether the flavour and standard can be created with the same texture. A box of the Gluten Free Chicken Crimpy Shapes will set customers back $5.50, with Ms Cowled stating the brand is always trying to keep the range as 'accessible as possible'. There are a number of factors that contribute to the higher cost of gluten-free products. 'First, the special gluten-free ingredients are significantly more expensive,' she said. 'Second, our gluten-free products are made in our dedicated smaller scale gluten-free bakery in Marleston, South Australia. 'Third, we have very strict process and allergen controls, taking extra measures to ensure our gluten free status. These are all essential to delivering the highest standards of quality and care, but they do come at a premium cost.' Gluten-free content creators expressed their excitement over the new product announcement. Christopher Tsalikis, also known as Melbourne Coeliac, broke the news on Instagram and called it the best thing he'd heard all year. 'My absolute favourite flavour of Shape, I am so excited for this. Firstly, huge shout out @nectoriouspapi for sharing this photo,' he said. 'But guys, check this out. Get excited. I know my Pizza lovers out there are gonna be disappointed.' Kati Keksi, who spruiks a lot of gluten-free products on social media, also shared her thoughts on the Shapes. 'Well well well, pretty sure I called it. I knew the next Shapes would be gluten free chicken crimpy, it's the biggest seller in NSW after all,' she said. Social media users lost their minds over the cracker aisle addition. 'I used GF BBQ shapes in the food processor to make GF breadcrumbs for Schnitty,' one said. Another added: 'Bacon and cheese next I hope.' 'If this is some sick April fools joke in May I'm going to cry because these were MY FAVOURITE FLAVOUR,' one weighed in. Someone else commented: 'Omg every time the kids have them I look at them jealous and think it is worth eating just one lol so I just smell them and walk away – confessions of a coeliac.' 'Is this real? I saw comments on a TikTok that the creator had mocked up an image to try to convince Arnotts to do them. I really hope it's true though,' one said. Another commented: 'STOP I'M SCREAMING.' 'Woohoo!!!!! This is awesome. They better hurry up with the Pizza Shapes,' was another reaction.
