The Australian Border Force (ABF) has disrupted the supply of illicit tobacco into the Northern Territory following targeted warrant activity under Operation GOALFENCE, seizing more than 100,000 cigarettes and 39 kilograms of loose‑leaf tobacco from the international mail stream.
Operation GOALFENCE is an intelligence‑led disruption campaign focused on identifying and seizing illicit tobacco before it reaches the community and the black market, supporting the broader objectives of Operation PRINTWALL.
On 13 May 2026, ABF Regional Investigations Northern Territory executed Customs Act 1901 warrants relating to multiple consignments identified through intelligence‑driven targeting within the international mail stream.
As a result of the activity, ABF officers located and seized 103,600 illicitly imported cigarettes and 39 kilograms of illicit loose‑leaf tobacco.
The seized tobacco represents approximately $193,860 in duty evaded and an estimated $150,400 in potential proceeds of crime if sold within the community.
ABF Commander Graeme Campbell said the result demonstrated the ABF's ongoing focus on disrupting illicit tobacco supply chains.
"Illicit tobacco trade harms legitimate retailers, distorts the market and generates significant profits for criminal groups operating outside the law," Commander Campbell said.
"Operation GOALFENCE is targeting vulnerabilities in the supply chain, including the misuse of the mail stream to move illicit tobacco into Australian communities.
"These detections in the Northern Territory demonstrate the ABF's ability to identify and disrupt illicit imports, regardless of the concealment method used."
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected illicit tobacco activity via Border Watch at http://www.abf.gov.au/borderwatch.
