Music identity Andrew McManus, 54, crime figure Craig Haeusler, 55, and lawyer Michael Croke, 65, were among five men arrested in Australia and the US following an alleged money laundering investigation.

Auburn pastry shop owner Zeki Atilgan, 32, was arrested and charged after a raid of his Kellyville home, while US businessman Owen Hanson jnr was arrested as he played golf in San Diego.

The international investigation was sparked in 2011 after the discovery of a black suitcase filled with $702,000 at Sydney's Hilton hotel.

Police revealed on Friday they will allege that the cash was the proceeds from a cocaine deal and that it was destined for The Star casino, to be laundered.

"The $702,000 was intended to go to a professional gambler who was working out of The Star casino," head of the Organised Crime Squad, Detective Superintendent Scott Cook, said.

"There's no suggestion the casino was complicit in any way with what the gambler was doing.

"The professional gambler was then taking the cheques from The Star casino to Las Vegas casinos and cashing the cheques in Las Vegas and that is how the money was being laundered."

Superintendent Cook said police allege at least $5 million was laundered by the criminal network in this fashion.

"We find with criminal groups that individuals play key roles and significant roles, they don't all undertake the same roles," Superintendent Cook said.

"Whilst a person is charged with a criminal group offence that's not to say that person was importing drugs personally, if that was the case they would have been charged with that."

He said the network came to the police's attention only in August 2011, when Sean Carolan, a Sydney-based former cage fighter and racehorse trainer-turned personal trainer, was found at the Hilton hotel in possession of the suitcase containing $702,000.

On the night police seized the cash, Mr Carolan said he was merely minding the money for Mr Hanson, his business partner, who didn't want to lose any more at the casino.

CCTV footage from The Star obtained by the police shows that, earlier in the day, Mr Carolan and Mr Hanson were in a heated conversation with Robert Cipriani, a well-known American high roller who calls himself Robin Hood 702 (702 is the telephone code for Las Vegas).

Police records note that Mr Cipriani "is well known to the casino and is currently of interest to the Australian Federal Police".

The day after the cash was seized, Mr Cipriani left for Los Angeles.

The money was confiscated, but Mr Carolan took action in the NSW Supreme Court to have it returned.

But, in extraordinary evidence tendered to the court, Mr McManus claimed ownership of the bag of cash.

"I gave someone 700 large, and you've found someone with 700 large. It's my 700 large," he told police in an interview with detectives in April 2012.

"It's not the proceeds of crime, it's the proceeds of Andrew McManus."

He claimed the money was the proceeds from a Lenny Kravitz tour and he had used about 20 crew members to "sneak" the cash in from New Zealand.

"I'm not a dickhead but ... if this went to the ATO, I'd be cooked again," Mr McManus said to police at the time.

Mr McManus went on to say he was repaying Mr Hanson who had stumped up the deposit that Mr McManus needed for a ZZ Top tour and now he was paying him back.

Although he was accompanied to the police interview by his lawyer, Mr Croke, who was once his partner in a Sydney nightclub, Mr McManus continued to make extraordinary admissions.

He boasted to police that if they came round to his house "right now" they would find a safe with "600 large sittin' in it".

The Supreme Court ruled against Mr Carolan and the cash remains in the custody of NSW authorities.

Following Thursday's arrests, Mr McManus has been charged with perverting the course of justice, attempting to defraud by false or misleading statements and knowingly participating in a criminal group to assist crime.

He was released on bail on Thursday night and is due to appear in a Sydney court on October 14, a NSW Police spokeswoman said.

In a statement on Friday, Mr McManus' lawyer, Nick Hanna said his client would "strenuously defend" the charges against him.

"Contrary to some media reports, the police have not alleged that Mr McManus has been involved in any drug syndicate, drug importation or money laundering," Mr Hanna said.

"Mr McManus has been cooperative with the police at all times in relation to this matter."

Mr Croke was charged with perverting the course of justice, three counts of intention to defraud by false or misleading statement, and knowingly participating in a criminal group.

Mr Haeusler has been charged with perverting the course of justice, intention to defraud by false or misleading statement, and knowingly participating in a criminal group.

Both Mr Croke and Mr Haeusler have been granted strict conditional bail and are due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, October 14.

A raid at Mr Atilgan's home allegedly resulted in the seizure of cash, steroids and cannabis. He was charged with two counts of money laundering.

Mr Carolan and Mr Cipriani have not been arrested.

NSW Police are expected to apply for the extradition of Mr Hanson from the US.