ACT police discover illegal brothel syndicate, seize $10 million in assets

Two city apartments used for illegal prostitution were among several Canberra dwellings seized, as well as multiple bank accounts.

In what has become the largest restraint in the ACT's history, two properties worth an estimated $2.8 million were seized as well as five properties and multiple bank accounts discovered earlier this year.

Police advised that the illegal syndicate had been operating across the ACT and in rural NSW and Queensland.

ACT police said those believed to be involved in the operation of the brothels were Australian citizens and there was currently no suspicion of sex trafficking.

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Police discovered the illegal network while investigating a breach of coronavirus restrictions during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said members of the public had alerted police to traffic coming and going from one of the premises.

Superintendent Moller said the illegal network had since been shut down but no arrests had yet been made.

"The investigation is ongoing - at this stage we haven't made any arrests but there's the possibility that we will," he said.

"The most important part of this investigation was seizing and restraining the assets."

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