15 Luxury Properties Raided Simultaneously at Dover Heights, Sydney
Authorities uncover large sums of undeclared cash hidden in high-end homes during synchronized early morning operations across Dover Heights, raising questions about financial misconduct in Sydney’s luxury real estate market.
28 May 2025 at 4:51 AM | By BridgeView Bulletin Editorial Team
Residents of Dover Heights awoke to a scene of coordinated law enforcement action as authorities raided 15 high-end properties across the suburb at dawn. The operation, led by New South Wales Police in collaboration with federal agencies, was part of a broader investigation into alleged financial misconduct and potential laundering operations linked to luxury real estate acquisitions in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Law enforcement sources confirmed that the properties were all targeted simultaneously to prevent suspects from warning one another or tampering with potential evidence. The raids, carried out under sealed warrants, involved over 60 officers and multiple specialized units. While details remain confidential, authorities stated that the operation had been planned for months following the analysis of financial records and offshore transaction patterns.
Inside several homes, police found significant quantities of undeclared cash, hidden in unusual locations including false ceilings, beneath floorboards, and even inside high-end appliances. In at least three properties, cash was discovered in denominations totaling more than $200,000 each. Officers were observed loading sealed evidence bags into marked vans as forensic teams remained inside for hours cataloging materials.
Neighbors in the affluent coastal suburb expressed shock, with many witnessing uniformed officers and plainclothes detectives entering homes that until recently were considered pristine family residences. 'It’s surreal,' said one longtime resident. 'We thought we lived in one of the safest areas of Sydney. I never imagined something like this happening here.'
The properties are believed to be linked through a complex web of shell companies and nominee ownership, complicating the task of tracing accountability. Authorities have suggested that proceeds from illicit activities, including unregistered international income, may have been funneled into the local real estate market to conceal their origin. Investigators are now working with financial crime units to untangle the ownership structures.
Legal experts believe this raid marks a pivotal moment in the government’s broader efforts to crack down on questionable investments in Australian housing. In recent years, both local and international watchdogs have raised concerns about the influx of opaque capital into major metropolitan housing markets, potentially driving up prices and limiting access for legitimate buyers.
Although no formal charges have been announced at this stage, several individuals have been brought in for questioning. Police confirmed that all interviews are being conducted with legal representation and in accordance with established procedures. A statement from NSW Police emphasized that the operation was intelligence-led and part of a wider strategy to address complex economic crimes.
The Department of Home Affairs has also expressed interest in the case, hinting that immigration and visa documentation may be reviewed as part of the probe. Given the international ties of some property holders, federal authorities are expected to collaborate with overseas financial regulators in tracing asset flows and ownership histories.
As the investigation continues, residents of Dover Heights remain uneasy. The event has prompted calls for greater transparency in luxury property transactions and raised public awareness of how elite neighborhoods may be inadvertently harboring illicit financial activity. Authorities have pledged further updates as evidence is processed and legal assessments proceed.