From: Australian Government | Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Australian Border Force (ABF) Investigators, with the assistance of the NSW Police Force, arrested two men in the Sydney suburb of Campsie this week after they allegedly took delivery of 100 kilograms of illicit tobacco.
Both men have been charged with importing and possessing smuggled tobacco, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
Investigators executed search warrants, seizing cash, a quantity of shredded tobacco, drug paraphernalia as well as two vehicles suspected of being used in the commission of the offence.
The two men were granted conditional bail and they are due to appear at Burwood Local Court on 12 January 2016.
In October, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton, announced the establishment of an illicit tobacco strike team to detect, disrupt and deter the trade of tobacco, which is sold on the black market at lower prices than legal products.
ABF Acting Assistant Commissioner Investigations Anthony Seebach said stopping the supply of smuggled tobacco is a high priority for the ABF.
“The smuggling of tobacco and cigarettes is a highly profitable criminal enterprise, which costs the Australian government millions of dollars each year in lost revenue,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Seebach said.
“We are aware that the profits made smuggling tobacco products are used to fund other criminal activity.”
Media contact: Immigration and Border Protection (02) 6264 2244
