The Australian Taxation Office (ATO), with support from Victoria Police’s VIPER Taskforce and the Australian Border Force (ABF), has seized and destroyed over 16 tonnes of illicit tobacco, with an estimated excise value of nearly $35 million.
Following a community tip-off, two search warrants were executed on 6 March at a property in Merrigum, Victoria, where authorities uncovered illicit tobacco crops spanning more than 13 acres.
Jade Hawkins, Assistant Commissioner at the ATO, highlighted the role of community reports in disrupting the illicit tobacco trade.
“Community tip-offs are one of our best sources of information as they provide us and our partner agencies with crucial information to assist in the fight against illicit tobacco.”
Tori Rosemond, Acting Commander at the ABF, said organised crime groups control around 75 per cent of the illicit tobacco market in Australia.
“We are detecting and seizing massive quantities of illicit tobacco on a daily basis at the border, but this alone cannot stem the supply, which is why we work side-by-side our partners to stamp out these home-grown illicit operations.”
Craig Darlow, Detective Acting Superintendent at Victoria Police, reaffirmed law enforcement’s commitment to targeting illicit tobacco networks across the state, including regional areas.
“These seizures—and their potential value of almost $35 million in avoided excise—are significant, and their impact will undoubtedly be felt by the organised crime groups operating in this state.
“We are doing absolutely everything we can to target syndicate leaders, directors, facilitators and organisers responsible for this criminal offending to make involvement in illicit tobacco as unattractive a proposition as possible.”
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