Episode Details

The episode details the conviction of Mark Chikarovski, son of a former Australian political leader, for running a multi-million dollar dark web drug trafficking operation under the alias "AusCokeKing". Investigations by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) revealed Chikarovski's connection to an offshore company, Aquay Holdings Ltd, and a Cypriot bank account, facilitated by SFM Corporate Services. The report highlights Chikarovski's use of cryptocurrency, his lavish lifestyle despite his lack of legitimate income, and the apparent use of shell companies to obscure his illicit activities. Despite his guilty plea and sentence, questions remain about the extent of his operation's international reach and the effectiveness of measures to combat financial secrecy. The episode concludes by emphasising that the case exposes the use of offshore structures to conceal criminal activity.