By Andrew Starke
New South Wales police have appealed for information after being alerted to suspicious multi-million dollar wine dealings which have affected companies across the country.
Investigators have recently become aware that an international company registered to a Wetherill Park address, called World Wide Trading Company, have received large quantities of wine from numerous suppliers on invoices that allegedly have not been paid, or were paid with cheques that have been dishonoured.
Additionally, two other suppliers had provided more than 10,000 pallets to the business but these had also not been paid for.
While police have so far declined to name any of the suppliers involved, news.com.au reported Stockman's Ridge in Bathhurst as having been scammed out of 5376 bottles of wine worth an estimated $250,000.
Fairfield Police were yesterday (Jan 18) called to the trading company’s warehouse in Daniel Street where officers spoke with a representative from one of the wineries who outlined their dealings with the company.
An inspection of the premises indicated it had been recently abandoned, however, numerous invoices and paperwork relating to the company were located and seized.
Police then attended another warehouse in Fairfield Street, Fairfield where they located more than $5million worth of wine, pallets and bottled water.
A number of the located items have already been identified by suppliers involved.
Police were then able to continue their investigation at a third property in Doody Street, Alexandria where further quantities of wine and pallets were located and identified by some of the victims.
Police have established crime scenes at each of the three locations and are attempting to contact other companies who may have also had similar dealings with World Wide Trading Company.
They have urged anyone with information about this incident or involved in similar dealings with World Wide Trading Company, and have not yet spoken to police, to come forward immediately.
Callers should contact Fairfield Police Station on 9728 8399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.