Latest news with #AhmadKaseSiddiqi
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside the flashy supercar life of trio allegedly behind $10million scheme to sell fake watches and Gucci bags - and the mistake that triggered their arrest
A western Sydney trio flaunted flash cars and fancy watches on social media before they were arrested for allegedly distributing fake designer goods in a $10million scam. Officers from NSW Police executed search warrants at multiple properties on Wednesday, and arrested Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, his brother Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, and their mate Shadi Skaf, 30. The trio were charged with a number of offences including dealing with the proceeds of crime. They appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, and on Friday magistrate Emma Manea granted them bail on strict conditions. During Wednesday's raids, police seized nine supercars valued at around $3million, including a purple Lamborghini, along with more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, $270,000 in cash, and a gel blaster firearm. Investigators allege the group raked in $9.75million selling fake luxury goods, including designer clothing, watches, shoes and handbags, through social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook. The men allegedly promoted their products by posting videos showcasing counterfeit items that appeared to be genuine, including Rolex watches, Louis Vuitton bags, and Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery. The group is also accused of laundering millions of dollars in illegal profits through multiple bank accounts. The TikTok account linked to the alleged brazen operation was still active and sharing content on the day the arrests were made. According to one online bio, the group had been operating since 2015. The purple Lamborghini Aventador was frequently featured in the group's videos and is believed to have been available to rent, alongside a fleet of other luxury cars. The group also had a Lamborghini Huracan Performante and a McLaren 765, which were among vehicles that could be hired for weddings. Over the past several years, Siddiqi also shared videos and photos to social media of himself inspecting and driving high-end cars and showing off apparently premium-brand watches. Selling pirated or counterfeit goods is illegal because it violates copyright and trademark laws, the Australian Border Force warned. 'There can be a tendency to view these as harmless or victimless crimes, but this is misleading,' an ABF spokesperson said. 'Counterfeiting damages legitimate Australian industry by creating an unfair playing ground for businesses that do the right thing.' The ABF explained counterfeit goods also include pharmaceutical and beauty products, and not just fake designer handbags, apparel and knock-off shoes. 'Counterfeit goods also pose serious health and safety risks,' the ABF said. Funds from counterfeit smuggling could finance other criminality in our communities, including organised crime. 'Criminal operations may also involve the exploitation of vulnerable workers, including victims of modern slavery, to produce counterfeit goods.' The ABF works with intellectual property brand owners and policy agencies such as IP Australia and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, state and territory regulators and international agencies to target counterfeit shipments. Luxury items are the most commonly seized counterfeit goods, along with mobile phones and accessories, car parts, clothing, shoes, watches and toys. The government body encourages the public to help protect Australia's border by reporting any suspicious border-related behaviour and trade activity through its dedicated service known as Border Watch.
The Advertiser
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Doubts after 'unprecedented' arrests over luxury fakes
Three men accused of running a multimillion-dollar fake luxury goods empire have been bailed after a lawyer's extraordinary claim governments may be complicit by receiving tax on their sales. Brothers Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, and Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, as well as Shadi Skaf, 30, have been charged over the sale of everything from counterfeit Rolex watches to Cartier bracelets and Louis Vuitton bags. When police raided their homes on Wednesday, they seized high-end cars including a Mercedes AMG and Lamborghinis. But as a bail hearing resumed on Friday the trio's lawyers maintained it was unclear what crime the accused men had committed. The federal government might be "aiding and abetting" or "conspiring" with the men by taking their income tax, Jawade Siddiqi's barrister Steven Boland alleged. While police have said the scheme netted about $9.75 million in profits, that figure came from bank records stretching back to 2017. Court documents indicate the alleged offences - which include dealing with the proceeds of crime - only took place from 2022. There had also been no concealment of business activity, lawyers argued. Mr Boland told Parramatta Local Court the decision to charge his client was "unprecedented" because police did not make more of an effort to shut down counterfeit sales at markets. "If it's really criminal to import these items, to sell them and to knowingly import these items, you shouldn't be able to walk into a market ... and buy them," he told the court. "There's no government information to that effect, just a suburban police station laying a charge." There were no allegations of fraud, but a breach of intellectual property made by police, rather than brand owners, Mr Boland argued. "It's not clear the brand owners even know or care," he said. Describing the strength of the prosecution case as "moderate", Magistrate Emma Manea bailed the trio on strict conditions. She found issues surrounding the date range of the alleged offending, along with what type of offence underpinned their dealing with proceeds of crime charges. Bail conditions included paying a $50,000 surety, reporting to a police station twice a day, not using social media and not associating with one another. During their raids earlier this week, officers confiscated a cache of more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, such as handbags, sneakers and watches - all imported from China - across three sites. More than $250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm were also seized. Fake watches of "extremely good quality" that resembled genuine articles worth more than $20,000 were sold to customers for $800 apiece, police said. Police allege more than one of the trio was receiving Centrelink payments while benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. The allegedly tainted assets were now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission, its executive director said. Three men accused of running a multimillion-dollar fake luxury goods empire have been bailed after a lawyer's extraordinary claim governments may be complicit by receiving tax on their sales. Brothers Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, and Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, as well as Shadi Skaf, 30, have been charged over the sale of everything from counterfeit Rolex watches to Cartier bracelets and Louis Vuitton bags. When police raided their homes on Wednesday, they seized high-end cars including a Mercedes AMG and Lamborghinis. But as a bail hearing resumed on Friday the trio's lawyers maintained it was unclear what crime the accused men had committed. The federal government might be "aiding and abetting" or "conspiring" with the men by taking their income tax, Jawade Siddiqi's barrister Steven Boland alleged. While police have said the scheme netted about $9.75 million in profits, that figure came from bank records stretching back to 2017. Court documents indicate the alleged offences - which include dealing with the proceeds of crime - only took place from 2022. There had also been no concealment of business activity, lawyers argued. Mr Boland told Parramatta Local Court the decision to charge his client was "unprecedented" because police did not make more of an effort to shut down counterfeit sales at markets. "If it's really criminal to import these items, to sell them and to knowingly import these items, you shouldn't be able to walk into a market ... and buy them," he told the court. "There's no government information to that effect, just a suburban police station laying a charge." There were no allegations of fraud, but a breach of intellectual property made by police, rather than brand owners, Mr Boland argued. "It's not clear the brand owners even know or care," he said. Describing the strength of the prosecution case as "moderate", Magistrate Emma Manea bailed the trio on strict conditions. She found issues surrounding the date range of the alleged offending, along with what type of offence underpinned their dealing with proceeds of crime charges. Bail conditions included paying a $50,000 surety, reporting to a police station twice a day, not using social media and not associating with one another. During their raids earlier this week, officers confiscated a cache of more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, such as handbags, sneakers and watches - all imported from China - across three sites. More than $250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm were also seized. Fake watches of "extremely good quality" that resembled genuine articles worth more than $20,000 were sold to customers for $800 apiece, police said. Police allege more than one of the trio was receiving Centrelink payments while benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. The allegedly tainted assets were now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission, its executive director said. Three men accused of running a multimillion-dollar fake luxury goods empire have been bailed after a lawyer's extraordinary claim governments may be complicit by receiving tax on their sales. Brothers Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, and Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, as well as Shadi Skaf, 30, have been charged over the sale of everything from counterfeit Rolex watches to Cartier bracelets and Louis Vuitton bags. When police raided their homes on Wednesday, they seized high-end cars including a Mercedes AMG and Lamborghinis. But as a bail hearing resumed on Friday the trio's lawyers maintained it was unclear what crime the accused men had committed. The federal government might be "aiding and abetting" or "conspiring" with the men by taking their income tax, Jawade Siddiqi's barrister Steven Boland alleged. While police have said the scheme netted about $9.75 million in profits, that figure came from bank records stretching back to 2017. Court documents indicate the alleged offences - which include dealing with the proceeds of crime - only took place from 2022. There had also been no concealment of business activity, lawyers argued. Mr Boland told Parramatta Local Court the decision to charge his client was "unprecedented" because police did not make more of an effort to shut down counterfeit sales at markets. "If it's really criminal to import these items, to sell them and to knowingly import these items, you shouldn't be able to walk into a market ... and buy them," he told the court. "There's no government information to that effect, just a suburban police station laying a charge." There were no allegations of fraud, but a breach of intellectual property made by police, rather than brand owners, Mr Boland argued. "It's not clear the brand owners even know or care," he said. Describing the strength of the prosecution case as "moderate", Magistrate Emma Manea bailed the trio on strict conditions. She found issues surrounding the date range of the alleged offending, along with what type of offence underpinned their dealing with proceeds of crime charges. Bail conditions included paying a $50,000 surety, reporting to a police station twice a day, not using social media and not associating with one another. During their raids earlier this week, officers confiscated a cache of more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, such as handbags, sneakers and watches - all imported from China - across three sites. More than $250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm were also seized. Fake watches of "extremely good quality" that resembled genuine articles worth more than $20,000 were sold to customers for $800 apiece, police said. Police allege more than one of the trio was receiving Centrelink payments while benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. The allegedly tainted assets were now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission, its executive director said. Three men accused of running a multimillion-dollar fake luxury goods empire have been bailed after a lawyer's extraordinary claim governments may be complicit by receiving tax on their sales. Brothers Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, and Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, as well as Shadi Skaf, 30, have been charged over the sale of everything from counterfeit Rolex watches to Cartier bracelets and Louis Vuitton bags. When police raided their homes on Wednesday, they seized high-end cars including a Mercedes AMG and Lamborghinis. But as a bail hearing resumed on Friday the trio's lawyers maintained it was unclear what crime the accused men had committed. The federal government might be "aiding and abetting" or "conspiring" with the men by taking their income tax, Jawade Siddiqi's barrister Steven Boland alleged. While police have said the scheme netted about $9.75 million in profits, that figure came from bank records stretching back to 2017. Court documents indicate the alleged offences - which include dealing with the proceeds of crime - only took place from 2022. There had also been no concealment of business activity, lawyers argued. Mr Boland told Parramatta Local Court the decision to charge his client was "unprecedented" because police did not make more of an effort to shut down counterfeit sales at markets. "If it's really criminal to import these items, to sell them and to knowingly import these items, you shouldn't be able to walk into a market ... and buy them," he told the court. "There's no government information to that effect, just a suburban police station laying a charge." There were no allegations of fraud, but a breach of intellectual property made by police, rather than brand owners, Mr Boland argued. "It's not clear the brand owners even know or care," he said. Describing the strength of the prosecution case as "moderate", Magistrate Emma Manea bailed the trio on strict conditions. She found issues surrounding the date range of the alleged offending, along with what type of offence underpinned their dealing with proceeds of crime charges. Bail conditions included paying a $50,000 surety, reporting to a police station twice a day, not using social media and not associating with one another. During their raids earlier this week, officers confiscated a cache of more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, such as handbags, sneakers and watches - all imported from China - across three sites. More than $250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm were also seized. Fake watches of "extremely good quality" that resembled genuine articles worth more than $20,000 were sold to customers for $800 apiece, police said. Police allege more than one of the trio was receiving Centrelink payments while benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. The allegedly tainted assets were now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission, its executive director said.
Perth Now
20-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Doubts after 'unprecedented' arrests over luxury fakes
Three men accused of running a multimillion-dollar fake luxury goods empire have been bailed after a lawyer's extraordinary claim governments may be complicit by receiving tax on their sales. Brothers Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, and Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, as well as Shadi Skaf, 30, have been charged over the sale of everything from counterfeit Rolex watches to Cartier bracelets and Louis Vuitton bags. When police raided their homes on Wednesday, they seized high-end cars including a Mercedes AMG and Lamborghinis. But as a bail hearing resumed on Friday the trio's lawyers maintained it was unclear what crime the accused men had committed. The federal government might be "aiding and abetting" or "conspiring" with the men by taking their income tax, Jawade Siddiqi's barrister Steven Boland alleged. While police have said the scheme netted about $9.75 million in profits, that figure came from bank records stretching back to 2017. Court documents indicate the alleged offences - which include dealing with the proceeds of crime - only took place from 2022. There had also been no concealment of business activity, lawyers argued. Mr Boland told Parramatta Local Court the decision to charge his client was "unprecedented" because police did not make more of an effort to shut down counterfeit sales at markets. "If it's really criminal to import these items, to sell them and to knowingly import these items, you shouldn't be able to walk into a market ... and buy them," he told the court. "There's no government information to that effect, just a suburban police station laying a charge." There were no allegations of fraud, but a breach of intellectual property made by police, rather than brand owners, Mr Boland argued. "It's not clear the brand owners even know or care," he said. Describing the strength of the prosecution case as "moderate", Magistrate Emma Manea bailed the trio on strict conditions. She found issues surrounding the date range of the alleged offending, along with what type of offence underpinned their dealing with proceeds of crime charges. Bail conditions included paying a $50,000 surety, reporting to a police station twice a day, not using social media and not associating with one another. During their raids earlier this week, officers confiscated a cache of more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, such as handbags, sneakers and watches - all imported from China - across three sites. More than $250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm were also seized. Fake watches of "extremely good quality" that resembled genuine articles worth more than $20,000 were sold to customers for $800 apiece, police said. Police allege more than one of the trio was receiving Centrelink payments while benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. The allegedly tainted assets were now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission, its executive director said.
West Australian
20-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Doubts after 'unprecedented' arrests over luxury fakes
Three men accused of running a multimillion-dollar fake luxury goods empire have been bailed after a lawyer's extraordinary claim governments may be complicit by receiving tax on their sales. Brothers Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, and Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, as well as Shadi Skaf, 30, have been charged over the sale of everything from counterfeit Rolex watches to Cartier bracelets and Louis Vuitton bags. When police raided their homes on Wednesday, they seized high-end cars including a Mercedes AMG and Lamborghinis. But as a bail hearing resumed on Friday the trio's lawyers maintained it was unclear what crime the accused men had committed. The federal government might be "aiding and abetting" or "conspiring" with the men by taking their income tax, Jawade Siddiqi's barrister Steven Boland alleged. While police have said the scheme netted about $9.75 million in profits, that figure came from bank records stretching back to 2017. Court documents indicate the alleged offences - which include dealing with the proceeds of crime - only took place from 2022. There had also been no concealment of business activity, lawyers argued. Mr Boland told Parramatta Local Court the decision to charge his client was "unprecedented" because police did not make more of an effort to shut down counterfeit sales at markets. "If it's really criminal to import these items, to sell them and to knowingly import these items, you shouldn't be able to walk into a market ... and buy them," he told the court. "There's no government information to that effect, just a suburban police station laying a charge." There were no allegations of fraud, but a breach of intellectual property made by police, rather than brand owners, Mr Boland argued. "It's not clear the brand owners even know or care," he said. Describing the strength of the prosecution case as "moderate", Magistrate Emma Manea bailed the trio on strict conditions. She found issues surrounding the date range of the alleged offending, along with what type of offence underpinned their dealing with proceeds of crime charges. Bail conditions included paying a $50,000 surety, reporting to a police station twice a day, not using social media and not associating with one another. During their raids earlier this week, officers confiscated a cache of more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, such as handbags, sneakers and watches - all imported from China - across three sites. More than $250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm were also seized. Fake watches of "extremely good quality" that resembled genuine articles worth more than $20,000 were sold to customers for $800 apiece, police said. Police allege more than one of the trio was receiving Centrelink payments while benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. The allegedly tainted assets were now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission, its executive director said.
The Advertiser
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
What's the crime, say accused $10m fake merch dealers
A trio of men accused of running a $10 million fake luxury goods empire at the same time as some received Centrelink benefits have questioned why they're being thrown in jail. Police raided the Sydney homes of brothers Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, and Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, as well as Shadi Skaf, 30, on Wednesday, over the sale of everything from counterfeit Rolex watches to Cartier bracelets and Louis Vuitton bags. Officers seized nine cars including several Lamborghinis and a Mercedes AMG worth a combined value of about $3 million in the busts. The trio appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, when they applied for bail. While each man had been hit with a number of charges, including dealing with the proceeds of crime, police had been unable to say what crime was actually committed, their lawyer said. "The question is what is the relevant offence," said barrister Philip Strickland SC, representing Skaf and Kase Siddiqi. The mere import and selling of goods was not a crime, while a jail term was unlikely if anyone was only found guilty of breaching trademark laws, he said. Jawade Siddiqi's barrister Steven Boland argued the case was unlike other alleged offenders charged with earning money from activities such as drug trafficking. There was "nothing surreptitious" about what the 33-year-old had done and there had been no concealment of any business activity, he said. Outside court, Jawade Siddiqi's solicitor Chaddy Mardini declined to comment on the matter apart from saying it was "not a garden-variety" case. Police prosecutors pressed for the trio to remain behind bars, pointing to a strong case that involved large amounts of funds being transferred into the personal bank accounts of the three men. There was a risk the men would not appear in court and could flee the country as they had access to sizeable sums of money, magistrate Emma Manea was told. While police said the scheme netted about $9.75 million in profits, the figure came from bank records stretching back to 2017. Court documents said the alleged offences only took place from 2022. Ms Manea will hand down her bail decision on Friday. Organised Crime Squad commander Peter Faux revealed earlier on Thursday that a delivery van "full of fake goods" pulled up as police were executing a search warrant in the case. Officers confiscated a cache of more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, such as handbags, sneakers and watches all imported from China, across three sites. More than $250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm were also seized. "These three premises looked like a department store when you went inside of them, with all the goods that were set up," Detective Superintendent Faux said. "It was a very professional outfit." Fake watches of "extremely good quality" that resembled genuine articles worth more than $20,000 were sold to customers for $800 apiece, police said. Police allege more than one of the trio was receiving Centrelink payments while benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. "They're living an extremely luxurious lifestyle, they're flaunting that lifestyle, they're driving up and down their streets in cars worth in excess of a million (dollars)," Det Supt Faux said. The allegedly tainted assets were now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission, its executive director said. A trio of men accused of running a $10 million fake luxury goods empire at the same time as some received Centrelink benefits have questioned why they're being thrown in jail. Police raided the Sydney homes of brothers Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, and Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, as well as Shadi Skaf, 30, on Wednesday, over the sale of everything from counterfeit Rolex watches to Cartier bracelets and Louis Vuitton bags. Officers seized nine cars including several Lamborghinis and a Mercedes AMG worth a combined value of about $3 million in the busts. The trio appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, when they applied for bail. While each man had been hit with a number of charges, including dealing with the proceeds of crime, police had been unable to say what crime was actually committed, their lawyer said. "The question is what is the relevant offence," said barrister Philip Strickland SC, representing Skaf and Kase Siddiqi. The mere import and selling of goods was not a crime, while a jail term was unlikely if anyone was only found guilty of breaching trademark laws, he said. Jawade Siddiqi's barrister Steven Boland argued the case was unlike other alleged offenders charged with earning money from activities such as drug trafficking. There was "nothing surreptitious" about what the 33-year-old had done and there had been no concealment of any business activity, he said. Outside court, Jawade Siddiqi's solicitor Chaddy Mardini declined to comment on the matter apart from saying it was "not a garden-variety" case. Police prosecutors pressed for the trio to remain behind bars, pointing to a strong case that involved large amounts of funds being transferred into the personal bank accounts of the three men. There was a risk the men would not appear in court and could flee the country as they had access to sizeable sums of money, magistrate Emma Manea was told. While police said the scheme netted about $9.75 million in profits, the figure came from bank records stretching back to 2017. Court documents said the alleged offences only took place from 2022. Ms Manea will hand down her bail decision on Friday. Organised Crime Squad commander Peter Faux revealed earlier on Thursday that a delivery van "full of fake goods" pulled up as police were executing a search warrant in the case. Officers confiscated a cache of more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, such as handbags, sneakers and watches all imported from China, across three sites. More than $250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm were also seized. "These three premises looked like a department store when you went inside of them, with all the goods that were set up," Detective Superintendent Faux said. "It was a very professional outfit." Fake watches of "extremely good quality" that resembled genuine articles worth more than $20,000 were sold to customers for $800 apiece, police said. Police allege more than one of the trio was receiving Centrelink payments while benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. "They're living an extremely luxurious lifestyle, they're flaunting that lifestyle, they're driving up and down their streets in cars worth in excess of a million (dollars)," Det Supt Faux said. The allegedly tainted assets were now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission, its executive director said. A trio of men accused of running a $10 million fake luxury goods empire at the same time as some received Centrelink benefits have questioned why they're being thrown in jail. Police raided the Sydney homes of brothers Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, and Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, as well as Shadi Skaf, 30, on Wednesday, over the sale of everything from counterfeit Rolex watches to Cartier bracelets and Louis Vuitton bags. Officers seized nine cars including several Lamborghinis and a Mercedes AMG worth a combined value of about $3 million in the busts. The trio appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, when they applied for bail. While each man had been hit with a number of charges, including dealing with the proceeds of crime, police had been unable to say what crime was actually committed, their lawyer said. "The question is what is the relevant offence," said barrister Philip Strickland SC, representing Skaf and Kase Siddiqi. The mere import and selling of goods was not a crime, while a jail term was unlikely if anyone was only found guilty of breaching trademark laws, he said. Jawade Siddiqi's barrister Steven Boland argued the case was unlike other alleged offenders charged with earning money from activities such as drug trafficking. There was "nothing surreptitious" about what the 33-year-old had done and there had been no concealment of any business activity, he said. Outside court, Jawade Siddiqi's solicitor Chaddy Mardini declined to comment on the matter apart from saying it was "not a garden-variety" case. Police prosecutors pressed for the trio to remain behind bars, pointing to a strong case that involved large amounts of funds being transferred into the personal bank accounts of the three men. There was a risk the men would not appear in court and could flee the country as they had access to sizeable sums of money, magistrate Emma Manea was told. While police said the scheme netted about $9.75 million in profits, the figure came from bank records stretching back to 2017. Court documents said the alleged offences only took place from 2022. Ms Manea will hand down her bail decision on Friday. Organised Crime Squad commander Peter Faux revealed earlier on Thursday that a delivery van "full of fake goods" pulled up as police were executing a search warrant in the case. Officers confiscated a cache of more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, such as handbags, sneakers and watches all imported from China, across three sites. More than $250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm were also seized. "These three premises looked like a department store when you went inside of them, with all the goods that were set up," Detective Superintendent Faux said. "It was a very professional outfit." Fake watches of "extremely good quality" that resembled genuine articles worth more than $20,000 were sold to customers for $800 apiece, police said. Police allege more than one of the trio was receiving Centrelink payments while benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. "They're living an extremely luxurious lifestyle, they're flaunting that lifestyle, they're driving up and down their streets in cars worth in excess of a million (dollars)," Det Supt Faux said. The allegedly tainted assets were now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission, its executive director said. A trio of men accused of running a $10 million fake luxury goods empire at the same time as some received Centrelink benefits have questioned why they're being thrown in jail. Police raided the Sydney homes of brothers Ahmad Kase Siddiqi, 30, and Ahmad Jawade Siddiqi, 33, as well as Shadi Skaf, 30, on Wednesday, over the sale of everything from counterfeit Rolex watches to Cartier bracelets and Louis Vuitton bags. Officers seized nine cars including several Lamborghinis and a Mercedes AMG worth a combined value of about $3 million in the busts. The trio appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, when they applied for bail. While each man had been hit with a number of charges, including dealing with the proceeds of crime, police had been unable to say what crime was actually committed, their lawyer said. "The question is what is the relevant offence," said barrister Philip Strickland SC, representing Skaf and Kase Siddiqi. The mere import and selling of goods was not a crime, while a jail term was unlikely if anyone was only found guilty of breaching trademark laws, he said. Jawade Siddiqi's barrister Steven Boland argued the case was unlike other alleged offenders charged with earning money from activities such as drug trafficking. There was "nothing surreptitious" about what the 33-year-old had done and there had been no concealment of any business activity, he said. Outside court, Jawade Siddiqi's solicitor Chaddy Mardini declined to comment on the matter apart from saying it was "not a garden-variety" case. Police prosecutors pressed for the trio to remain behind bars, pointing to a strong case that involved large amounts of funds being transferred into the personal bank accounts of the three men. There was a risk the men would not appear in court and could flee the country as they had access to sizeable sums of money, magistrate Emma Manea was told. While police said the scheme netted about $9.75 million in profits, the figure came from bank records stretching back to 2017. Court documents said the alleged offences only took place from 2022. Ms Manea will hand down her bail decision on Friday. Organised Crime Squad commander Peter Faux revealed earlier on Thursday that a delivery van "full of fake goods" pulled up as police were executing a search warrant in the case. Officers confiscated a cache of more than 500 counterfeit luxury items, such as handbags, sneakers and watches all imported from China, across three sites. More than $250,000 in cash and a gel blaster firearm were also seized. "These three premises looked like a department store when you went inside of them, with all the goods that were set up," Detective Superintendent Faux said. "It was a very professional outfit." Fake watches of "extremely good quality" that resembled genuine articles worth more than $20,000 were sold to customers for $800 apiece, police said. Police allege more than one of the trio was receiving Centrelink payments while benefiting from the proceeds of their crimes. "They're living an extremely luxurious lifestyle, they're flaunting that lifestyle, they're driving up and down their streets in cars worth in excess of a million (dollars)," Det Supt Faux said. The allegedly tainted assets were now under the control of the NSW Crime Commission, its executive director said.
