The Australian Border Force (ABF) will lead the coordination of the new Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group (ITNDG), a first-of-its-kind whole-of-Government capability to target and disrupt mid-level criminals and enablers operating in the illicit tobacco market
Led by the ABF, the ITNDG brings together traditional and non-traditional federal, state and territory agencies such as police, tax, health, financial and other regulatory organisations to share intelligence and coordinate joint action against those importing, selling or distributing illicit tobacco.
The new group will focus on the mid-level criminals and enablers operating within small business, the retailer sector, intermediaries (such as couriers, property owners etc.) and sole traders - while the ABF-led Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF) will continue to target serious criminal syndicates importing or producing tobacco on a large scale. Together the two teams will disrupt the illicit tobacco and e-cigarette trade - from import to street sale.
Expanding enforcement beyond traditional policing agencies connects regulatory compliance to a coordinated national disruption response while removing the burden on police so they can focus on the serious organised elements of illicit tobacco crime.
The innovative and intelligence-led operating model is designed to disrupt and dismantle illicit tobacco operators swiftly by exploiting avenues not previously utilised in a joined-up capacity.
A key feature of the ITNDG operating model include novel agency partnerships working collaboratively using each agency's respective powers and capabilities. Specifically, this will involve intelligence sharing to support investigative and other regulatory activities that result in impactful outcomes to break the business model of the illicit tobacco trade.
ABF Commissioner Gavan Reynolds said the new Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group would make it harder for criminals to profit from the illegal tobacco market.
"We are seizing record levels of illicit tobacco at our borders, and we are seeing great results with our international partners offshore, but we know the trade doesn't stop there. This new group will target the mid-level criminals and enablers, importing, selling and distributing illicit tobacco across the country, ensuring there are no safe zones for criminal operators in this space," Commissioner Reynolds said.
"Our goal is simple: to break the business model that makes illicit tobacco profitable. We will make the current operating environment hostile for anyone trading in illicit tobacco. That means continued focus action against organised syndicates and now the smaller actors and enablers who fuel the market.
"The ABF is proud to lead this effort which represents a new era in illicit tobacco enforcement. We will work tirelessly with our partners, domestically and internationally, pre, at and post the border to dismantle any and all operators in this market."
Successful outcomes from the ITNDG will eliminate profit incentives by making the market economically unsustainable for operators, protect community health by reducing availability of unregulated and illicit tobacco products, and recover government revenue lost to the illicit trade.
Current federal partner agencies in the National Disruption Group:
Home Affairs, The Australian Federal Police, AUSTRAC, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Taxation Office, Department of Health Disability and Ageing (including the Therapeutic Goods Administration), Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commission and Services Australia.
