The Australian Border Force (ABF) has successfully removed the final member of a criminal syndicate involved in an illicit tobacco smuggling operation uncovered in late 2019.
The 38 year old man was removed today, 10 September, following an investigation by the ABF-led Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF) after suspicious activity was reported in a storage shed in Revesby, NSW.
On 13 December 2019, the syndicate was seen transferring several boxes of illicit tobacco from a shed into a nearby van which was subsequently found to have arrived days earlier falsely declared as Christmas trees.
ITTF officers responded immediately, conducting surveillance and executing warrants on two nearby storage units. Inside, officers uncovered elaborate concealment methods, including the use of Christmas trees, wooden panels, and blue metal power units to hide illicit tobacco.
The total seizure amounted to approximately 207.6 kilograms of illicit loose-leaf tobacco, with an estimated excise evasion value of over AUD $268 thousand
Three of the four men involved were arrested at the scene, subsequently sentenced, and have already served time in custody and immigration detention before being removed from Australia.
The final man, who was sentenced in 2021, evaded law enforcement by breaching bail and crossing state borders. His prosecution was significantly delayed through repeated adjournments and the continual replacement of legal representatives.
Despite these efforts to avoid justice, he has now been apprehended and removed from the country.
Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement Commander Greg Dowse said this operation highlights the persistence and effectiveness of the ABF-led Illicit Tobacco Taskforce.
"The ABF and our partner agencies are aware of the increasing use of storage sheds being used to facilitate the storage and transfer of sale of illicit tobacco within Australia," Commander Dowse said.
"The multi-agency taskforce investigation has resulted in another criminal syndicate and their business model being disrupted, with one of its key players removed from Australia."
"The ABF remains committed to detecting and disrupting those individuals who undermine Australia's border integrity and seek to profit from the illicit tobacco market."
"Whenever you buy an illicit tobacco product you are putting money directly into the pockets of transnational and serious organised crime groups who then fund other serious criminal activities such as illicit drug and weapon trafficking."
The ABF-led ITTF combines the operational, investigative and intelligence capabilities of the ABF, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Tax Office, AUSTRAC and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Anyone with information about the importation of illicit tobacco or cigarettes should contact Border Watch at www.abf.gov.au/borderwatch. By reporting suspicious activities, you help protect Australia's border and the community. Information can be provided anonymously.
