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The Australian Border Force (ABF) has cancelled the visa of a Swiss national, 24, for attempting to smuggle cigarettes into Australia, at Perth International Airport.
ABF officers selected the woman for a baggage examination after she arrived at Perth International airport as a student visa holder.
The examination revealed 2,520 cigarettes concealed in her luggage.
On her Incoming Passenger Card, the passenger had declared she was not carrying more than 25 cigarettes.
ABF officers seized the cigarettes and refused immigration clearance, cancelling her visa under section 116 of the Migration Act 1958.
ABF Superintendent John Eldridge said the ABF is seeing an increase in attempts to illegally import tobacco and the consequences of being caught with undeclared tobacco are substantial.
"The ABF works closely with our international customs and law enforcement partners, though regular information sharing and intelligence building, to detect and intercept undeclared tobacco imports."
"Not only has this passenger lost their cigarettes and wasted an airfare, but by having her visa cancelled she now faces an exclusion period of up to three years from re-entering Australia," Superintendent Eldridge said.
"This should serve as a warning for anyone considering a similar attempt at bringing into Australia a prohibited import such as cigarettes, while also attempting to evade paying the duty on these products."
This result is part of an increase in seizures of illicit tobacco at Australia's international border, across air cargo, sea cargo, and on travellers - Brazen attempts to import illicit tobacco revealed in new ABF data.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity which may impact the security of Australia's borders is urged to report to Border Watch online. By reporting suspicious activities, you help protect Australia's border and the community.
