Australian Border Force (ABF) officers have seized three pallets of undeclared tobacco at Perth International Airport.
Officers performed a baggage examination on a man, who was revealed to be the director of a privately-owned supermarket in Maddington, who was returning from an international flight and located and seized $29,000 of undeclared tobacco products, including cigarettes, loose tobacco, and cigarillos.
Upon further investigations, officers intercepted a consignment imported via Melbourne on July 19 that contained 336,000 cigarettes, 25.5kg of molasses tobacco, and 135kg of Al Fakher – a popular type of shisha tobacco, all of which were intended to be sold at the WA supermarket.
Kelly Jorgensen, Inspector at the ABF, said this activity is just one instance of the persistent work of the ABF to stop illegal products reaching Australian consumers.
“There are well documented links between the distribution and sale of illicit tobacco in Australia and organised crime syndicates. We know the same groups profiting from illicit tobacco are diversifying into the distribution of vapes.
“Purchasing illicit tobacco and vapes is supporting organised crime. The profits from illicit tobacco are funnelled back to criminal syndicates, involved in serious crimes, such as drug trafficking and money laundering, to fund lavish lifestyles.”
“Criminal groups have been known to pressure tobacco retailers across Australia to buy and sell their illicit product, and enforce compliance through violent acts, such as torching tobacco shops, stand over tactics and shootings.”
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