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Three luxury cars valued at $1million and a large assortment of illegal goods have been seized after criminals were discovered covertly working within an Australian logistic company
Operation YAVIN25 is a joint investigation between Australian Border Force (ABF) and NSW Police into a syndicate suspected of importing large volumes of illicit tobacco, illegal vapes and border-controlled drugs into Australia as well as conducting other criminal and money laundering activities.
The syndicate is suspected of infiltrating Australia's supply chain by exploiting key members of freight forwarding and logistic companies to assist with the importation and distribution of illegal products throughout the Australian community.
Following the seizure of two containers into Sydney and Melbourne containing over 1.9 million cigarettes - on Monday 8 December ABF officers executed warrants at a warehouse in Truganina VIC and a residential property in Mount Waverley VIC, Simultaneously, the ABF with the assistance of NSW Police Force Raptor squad executed warrants at two warehouses in Villawood NSW.
Items seized across the four locations include: three luxury vehicles, AUD $280,000 cash, luxury handbags and jewellery, 690,000 cigarette sticks, 3,000 ice pipes, over 5,500 vapes, a cash counter, 10 credit cards and nunchakus.
Several mobile devices and a video recorder were also seized by ABF officers which will be used to gather and build evidence against the freight forwarder which is now under the spotlight of the Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group. Investigations into the criminal network remain ongoing.
Commander Customs Enforcement Graeme Campbell said the ABF works closely with our law enforcement, regulatory and industry partners, both here in Australia and overseas, to target organised crime networks who seek to recruit, exploit or coerce 'trusted insiders' for the sole purpose of advancing their illicit ventures.
"Every detection, every intercept, every shop shut down, warehouse raided, and car seized, is a disruption to those trying to profit from this crime and will continue to apply pressure to their business models. This is why the Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group has been established to target and dismantle mid-level criminals and enablers who exploit Australia's supply chain".
"Illicit tobacco is a high profit commodity for organised crime, and our approach must be coordinated and sophisticated - this is exactly why the ABF targets this threat pre-border in partnership with international agencies, monitors it throughout the supply chain and intercepts it post-border," Commander Campbell said.
"The Australian community expect our supply chains to be secure. By identifying corruption and preventing illicit drugs and tobacco from entering the market, we are reinforcing trust in the systems that keep our country moving."
A/g Detective Superintendent Brad Abdy said Raptor Squad and the NSWPF will continue to work with law enforcement partners to target all avenues of organised crime, and this successful operation highlights the benefits of this cooperation.
Anyone with information about the importation of illicit tobacco or cigarettes should contact Border Watch at abf.gov.au/borderwatch. By reporting suspicious activities, you help protect Australia's border and the community. Information can be provided anonymously.
