Seven in court over alleged $228m money laundering

AFP officers arrested seven people accused of money laundering in raids across the nation. (HANDOUT/AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE)

Seven people have faced court over what Australian Federal Police have described as a $228 million money laundering ring.

Officers arrested the group during raids across the nation on Wednesday as part of what has been called the most complex AFP-led money laundering investigation in Australian history.

Jing Zhu, 35, Ye Qu, 35, Ding Wang, 40, Jin Wang, 33, Jie Lu, 28 and Fei Duan, 37, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, while Zuo Chen, 37, had faced the same court the previous evening.

Court documents allege Qu, Duan, Chen, Wang and Wang are charged over allegations they conspired to conceal or disguise money or property believed to be proceeds of crime worth more than $10 million between March 1, 2021 and October 24, 2023.

It's alleged all seven co-accused conspired to deal with proceeds of crime worth more than $10 million between March 13 and October 24 this year.

Police have been given until January 17 next year to prepare the brief of evidence against the group, before all seven are scheduled to return to court for a committal mention on March 13.

None of the group applied for bail but barristers for at least four indicated possible applications early next month.

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