Gambling addiction: police officer sells $1 million worth of family gold
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16 Aug 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes This case has been the subject of much discussion within the Australian police force for months. A former New South Wales (NSW) officer is accused of selling over $1 million worth of family gold to fund an uncontrollable gambling addiction. Behind this case lies a code name: Operation Dartmoor, an internal investigation that revealed much more than just a debt problem. It raised serious questions about security and integrity within the police force.
The alert came from a financial lead
It all began when AUSTRAC, the Australian organisation responsible for monitoring suspicious financial transactions, reported several unusual banking transactions to the Police Conduct Commission. These transactions were linked to a police officer, referred to in the report by the pseudonym DAR.
The data showed the sale of large quantities of gold to a dealer suspected of being involved in money laundering activities. This report triggered a formal investigation under section 132 of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Act 2016.
Discreet surveillance and disturbing
To understand the scope of the case, the Commission set up discreet surveillance and combed through the agent’s bank accounts. Investigators quickly discovered that he was a compulsive gambler, accustomed to high-stakes online betting.
A search warrant was issued for his home. There, the police found an unexpected haul: a large quantity of gold bars and coins.
A misappropriated family treasure
The history of this gold dates back several decades. According to witness statements, 14 bars and 20 gold coins, supposedly from South Africa, were kept in an ice cream box under a family home.
The official story refers to an inheritance from the agent’s grandfather’s pension fund. But the figures do not add up. Pensions at the time could not have generated such a large sum, and the shadow of an uncle with a troubled criminal past casts a dark cloud over the situation.
Investigators discovered that the officer already had gambling problems when he joined the police force in 2019, a detail he did not disclose during his recruitment.
Measures to prevent further scandals
In light of these findings, the Commission recommends that the NSW Police require new recruits to disclose any known addictions. It also proposes the introduction of a specific policy to address the issue of compulsive gambling within the ranks.
The objective is clear: to protect law enforcement from human failings that can be exploited by organised crime.
A weakened defence
The former police officer maintains that the gold belonged to his family and that therefore no theft took place. However, the evidence indicates that he knew that the gold did not belong to him directly. Worse still, he allegedly attempted to conceal the origin of the funds from the precious metals dealer and the online gambling operator.
According to the Commission, these acts constitute serious misconduct. The case has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The man has not been a member of the police force since August 2022. But the story is far from over. He now faces criminal proceedings that could result in a severe sentence.