More police raids are planned in Western Australia and Victoria as part of an investigation into a sophisticated money-laundering syndicate that exploits illegal workers.
Police seized cash, firearms and computers and detained dozens of foreign workers at a gated market-garden compound at Carabooda on Perth's northern fringe over the weekend.
The workers were living on the premises in sub-standard conditions and being paid below the award wage.
WA Police state crime assistant commissioner Craig Ward described the exploitation of the foreign workers as "a human tragedy".
"These are people who are put through conditions that we wouldn't accept," he said.
There were also weekend raids in Victoria as part of the four-year, multi-agency investigation into the elaborate syndicate.
In the investigation to date, 32 charges have been laid against 19 people - including three West Australian brothers believed to be the leaders of the syndicate.
"We don't believe there are people higher up the chain," Mr Ward told reporters.
"I would say it's probably generational. It's not just this one particular group. It's predominantly one family.
"They do have tentacles in other states and certainly overseas."
Police say the complex web of money laundering and tax avoidance involves many companies in WA and Victoria, with some of the funds going offshore.
Australian federal police assistant commissioner Ramzi Jabbour said the syndicate's activities covered "a broad range of commodities and alleged criminality".
"These people are sophisticated," he said.
"They do receive advice from professional entities such as lawyers, accountants and the like for the specific purpose of avoiding and evading law enforcement."
Mr Ward said the syndicate was involved in primary produce, construction and the entertainment industry, including nightclubs and karaoke bars.
He said more raids were planned in WA and Victoria later on Monday.
It was possible hundreds of charges could be laid, Mr Ward said.
He said 130 foreign nationals had been detained over the course of the investigation, including 70 people from the Carabooda property.
Mr Jabbour said many of the foreign workers were Malaysian and had overstayed their visas.
The majority had been exploited by the syndicate, he said.
Children were found on the premises, but it was not yet clear if they had been working.
The maximum penalty for money laundering is 25 years in jail.
Many of the accused also face the charge of harbouring an unlawful citizen, an offence with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
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