Authorities have made one of the largest busts of illegal tobacco following mass raids across the Gold Coast, Tweed and NSW mid-north coast.
The investigation began in October last year and was led by the Australian Border Force following intelligence into a sophisticated illicit tobacco network suspected of importing, distributing and transporting illegal tobacco, along with money laundering.
According to authorities, the criminal network has acquired a large number of tobacco retail outlets, primarily in Queensland, with a growing number spreading across other states, all suspected of selling illegally imported tobacco and nicotine vaping products.
During the raids, officials seized more than $1.4 million in cash, in excess of 2,800,000 cigarette sticks, approximately 380 kilos of loose leaf tobacco, suspected counterfeit empty plain packaging, and documentary and electronic evidence to support prosecution against alleged Customs Act offences.
Suspected nicotine vaping products with an estimated street value of $5.3 million were also seized, along with cash counting machines, knuckle dusters, shotgun shells, and a small quantity of illegal drugs.
PHOTO: ABF
ABF ITTF Commander Penny Spies said the bust will be a significant blow to the criminal network’s multi-layered operations.
“It’s also a great demonstration of how intelligence sharing and close collaboration with partner agencies across federal and state jurisdictions can lead to such impressive results,” Commander Spies said.
“As demonstrated with the cash seized at these warrants, the illicit tobacco trade is an attractive market for organised criminal syndicates due to the lucrative profits that can be made in evaded tax.
“These profits fund lavish lifestyles and are channelled back into organised crime.”
PHOTO: ABF
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the Gold Coast Joint Organised Crime Team was proud to support efforts to target the various income streams of organised crime.
“Organised crime groups use a variety of illicit means to generate income, and tobacco has long been an area of concern.
“Some people may think getting cheap cigarettes is harmless, but it is anything but; profits obtained from this illegal trade are often used to fund large imports of dangerous drugs and fuels violence on suburban streets”.
Investigations into the alleged illicit tobacco network are ongoing.
