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Melbourne man pleads guilty following illicit tobacco bust

A 39-year-old male from Melbourne has been sentenced to over two years jail, with a non-parole period of one year, for importing more than 110,000 cigarettes and 93 kilograms of loose tobacco.

The man was sentenced in Melbourne County Court this week (13 September 2017) after being found guilty of:

  • One count of importing goods being tobacco products, with the intention of defrauding the revenue, contrary to section 233BABAD(1) of the Customs Act 1901.
  • One count of possess and convey tobacco products, knowing the goods were imported to defraud the revenue, contrary to section 233BABAD(2) of the Customs Act 1901.

Read more: ABF arrests four men linked to illicit tobacco syndicate

In April 2016, the Australian Border Force (ABF) Tobacco Strike Team commenced an investigation into the activities of a criminal syndicate suspected of importing cigarettes and loose leaf tobacco via postal and air cargo streams.

On 25 August 2016, as a result of significant tobacco detections linked to the syndicate, ABF investigators conducted multiple search and seizure warrants at several locations in Melbourne.

As a result of the initial warrant activity it was established that the man was in control of 12 Post Office Boxes in the northern suburbs of Melbourne all registered in false names that were being used for multiple importations.

Subsequent warrants were executed at these Post Offices with 98 mail articles being seized. These contained tobacco products equating to a total revenue evasion of more than $120,000 AUD.

Superintendent Regional Investigations Victoria, Craig Palmer, said that the ABF is successfully disrupting the supply of illicit tobacco and dismantling the criminal syndicates that support it.

“Illicit tobacco is attractive to organised crime and is one of the world’s most smuggled illegal goods,” said Superintendent Palmer.

“Criminals are using increasingly sophisticated concealment methods but the ABF continues to detect these illegal shipments through effective examination capability supported by technology and extensive intelligence networks.”

Valuable intelligence about cigarette smuggling often comes from members of the public.

People with information about the illicit importation of tobacco should contact Border Watch by going to www.border.gov.au/borderwatch. By reporting suspicious activities, you help protect Australia’s border. Information can be provided anonymously.


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