Synopsis

The Great Mint Swindle is an extraordinary tale about the most famous gold heist in Australia’s history - a major crime that remains unsolved to this day. The 20-year saga is a mysterious tale of greed, rat cunning and the allure of gold. It's about the selling of souls, police corruption, the desperate need for redemption and the pursuit of justice. The story begins with an elaborate sting at The Perth Mint. It ends two decades later with a chilling car bomb assassination and a wretched suicide. At the centre of this historic tale is a bitter war between two brotherhoods. On one side is Ray Mickelberg, a decorated SAS Vietnam veteran with a reputation after manufacturing a huge fake nugget. His off-sider is larrikin brother Peter Mickelberg, 14-years his junior. On the other side is senior Detective Donald Leslie Hancock - "The Silver Fox". Some say he was a fearless champion of justice, others a sinister and rogue cop. His loyal number two was Detective Tony "Lewi" Lewandowski - an easily lead thug who, in the end, is left holding the scales of justice and alone must decide which brotherhood will prevail. Was Detective Hancock's approach a case of 'noble cause' corruption? Many still believe the Mickelbergs did the Mint job. Or was it something more sinister?

Filmed and Post Produced in Western Australia on the Traditional Country of the Yamatji Badimia, Yamatji Nanda & Noongar Whadjuk peoples