From: The Land
Crime gangs coaxing farmers into growing illegal tobacco: ATO
Looks pretty, but it’s all illegal. Part of the illegal tobacco crop at Shannon’s Flat near Cooma with an excisable value of more than $11 million seized in March.
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In a statement after special questions from The Land, the Australian Taxation Office has warned landholders of being approached by individuals wanting to grow tobacco on their farms.
Large criminal syndicates are now involved in tobacco growing, encouraged to the illicit trade by the soaring price of cigarettes.
