Transnational crime syndicates trading in illicit tobacco will be put on notice by customs officials from 20 Asia-Pacific nations attending an Australian Border Force (ABF) led initiative in Singapore over the next two days.
The inaugural Asia-Pacific Illicit Tobacco Initiative 2024 will enhance regional cooperation, strengthen national supply chains, increase information sharing and set the platform for future joint operations targeting the criminal networks involved in the trade.
ABF Commander Ken McKern said illicit tobacco was an issue that extended beyond the borders of individual countries and required a united response.
"The trade in illicit tobacco globally diverts billions of dollars of vital tax revenue from governments - which could have been used to fund health, education and other essential community services - to criminals, funding transnational crime, corruption, and terrorism," Commander McKern said.
"The trade is both domestic and international in scope and requires cooperation between local, state, federal, and international entities to combat.
"The Asia-Pacific Illicit Tobacco Initiative 2024 will build on previous successful activities and reignite a regional approach to combat illicit tobacco.
"The initiative will also provide further information and intelligence from our global customs partners to enable the ABF and Australian partner agencies to continue to disrupt and prosecute criminals engaged in the importation and supply of illicit tobacco in Australia."
Australia's interim Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette (ITEC) Commissioner, Erin Dale, said a key priority for her is addressing illicit tobacco at the source to prevent and deter these products from reaching Australian shores.
"International collaboration is vital for the success of Australia's efforts to combat illicit tobacco, ensuring that our policies are understood globally. I applaud the efforts of the ABF in driving this inaugural initiative," Commissioner Dale said.
The ITEC Commissioner is a new role established by the Australian Government to address the complex challenges posed by illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes.
Eliminating the illicit trade in tobacco would gain governments globally an estimated US$31.3 billion every year, and from 2030 onwards, more than 164,000 premature deaths every year would be avoided, according to the World Health Organisation.
Representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, People 's Republic of China, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu and Vietnam will attend.
The initiative will be held in Singapore from 3 to 4 September 2024.
Note
Members of the public and industry can report any suspicious activity relating to illicit tobacco to the ABF's Border Watch portal.
Border Watch referrals can be made anonymously.
You can access the Border Watch portal through the ABF website: https://www.abf.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/borderwatch
