An Indian national is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on 26 June, 2026, charged with allegedly profiting from illicit tobacco sales while providing fraudulent immigration information and documentation to public officials.
The AFP will allege the man, 33, is part of an illicit tobacco syndicate and facilitated the movement of more than $7 million from illicit tobacco sales through his bank account. It will be alleged the tobacco sales came from multiple outlets in Brisbane's outer suburbs.
It will also be alleged the man is living in Australia unlawfully and provided false information to Australian immigration officials as part of sustained efforts to obtain permanent residency.
AFP investigators executed a search warrant at a home in the Brisbane suburb of Kuraby on 27 April, 2026, with assistance from Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
During the search, police located and seized an estimated $70,000 cash, four mobile phones, business documents and the keys to a commercial storage shed.
The search also located a number of boxes of illicit vapes, which were forfeited to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Another search warrant was executed the same day (27 April, 2026) by the QPS at a Rochedale commercial storage unit suspected to be an illicit tobacco distribution centre. No items were located.
The Kuraby man was charged with:
One count of dealing with proceeds of crime less than $100,000, contrary to section 400.9(1A) of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of four years' imprisonment;
One count of providing a false document and false or misleading information, contrary to section 234 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment;
One count of dishonestly influencing a public official, contrary to s135.1(7) of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment; and
One count of possessing a commercial quantity of vaping goods, contrary to s41QC(1) of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Kurt Wesche said anyone who became involved in the illicit tobacco trade should be warned the AFP and its partners were committed to ongoing action to stop criminal enterprises profiting from everyday Australians.
"Illicit tobacco not only presents a significant health risk to Australian communities, it also results in everyday Australians funding the lavish lifestyles of criminals," Det a/Supt Wesche said.
"The AFP and our partners will continue to proactively target individuals profiting from illegal activity, and strip them of their ill-gotten gains."
Queensland Police Service, Crime Command, Detective Acting Superintendent Melissa Anderson said police were committed to disrupting organised crime syndicates for illicit tobacco products and other unlawful commodities.
"This ongoing collaborative approach, with interstate and Commonwealth agencies, aims to ensure that individuals operating behind the scenes are identified and brought to justice, reinforcing our dedication to protecting the community from the harmful impacts of organised crime," Det a/Supt Anderson said.
ABF Superintendent Amanda Coppleman said the ABF worked closely with partner agencies to support efforts to disrupt criminal activity which undermines Australia's border and migration systems.
"Strong interagency partnerships are critical to identifying and responding to individuals who seek to exploit immigration processes or profit from illicit activities," Supt Coppleman said.
"Illicit tobacco activity is targeted most effectively when agencies work together across every stage of the supply chain, from importation through to storage, distribution and retail."
"Queensland Health will always welcome the opportunity to work with other agencies to interrupt the trade of illicit tobacco products," a Queensland Health spokesperson said.
"We have zero tolerance for those who flout the law and put the health of our community at risk by selling illicit vapes and tobacco, no matter where they operate in Queensland."
