Police have charged a man and seized illicit tobacco and vapes valued at approximately $150,000 this week as part of an ongoing investigation into a criminal syndicate alleged to be involved in large scale illicit tobacco importation.
Three warrants were executed at a tobacco store and a storage facility in Keysborough, as well as a residential property in Truganina on Wednesday, 13 March.
A range of items were seized from the addresses including several hundred packets and cartons of cigarettes, 1000 nicotine pouches, 10kg of loose tobacco and over 1000 vapes, as well as a quantity of cash receipts and a ledger book.
A 35-year-old Truganina man was arrested and subsequently charged with possessing tobacco products with intent to defraud the revenue and commit an indicatable offence whilst on bail.
The man had previously been arrested and charged in relation to this investigation.
He faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 14 March and has been bailed to appear again on 9 July.
The arrest and seizures form part of Operation Tyers, a 17-month Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF) investigation involving members from Victoria Police and the AFP along with seconded members of the Australian Border Force (ABF) Illicit Tobacco Taskforce.
Last month six men were arrested in Melbourne as part of the investigation and it is alleged some of the men work for freight and transport logistics companies in trusted positions.
It is alleged several of the men have links to a Melbourne-based Middle Eastern organised crime syndicate, suspected of being behind a series of illicit tobacco imports into Victoria.
It is also alleged two of the men had access to internal shipping and transport systems and attempted to manipulate data relating to the illicit tobacco consignment to evade law enforcement detection.
Search warrants were also executed on 27 February at a number of businesses and homes in Melbourne's western suburbs.
As part of the investigation, the ABF intercepted 10 million cigarettes in Victoria after arriving on a sea cargo ship from Vietnam on 3 February, 2024.
That illicit tobacco had an estimated value of approximately $15 million.
Along with the 35-year-old Truganina man, a 45-year-old Point Cook man, a 35-year-old Fraser Rise man, a 31-year-old Altona Meadows man, a 35-year-old Craigieburn man and a 40-year-old Tarneit man were all arrested and subsequently charged with a range of offences.
They will next appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 9 July and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information on organised crime activity linked to illicit tobacco is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
FULL LIST OF CHARGES:
The Point Cook man and Fraser Rise man were both charged with:
- Conspiracy to import tobacco products with the intention of defrauding the revenue, contrary to section 232BABAD(1) of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth), by virtue of section 11.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth), punishable by imprisonment for 10 years, or a fine not exceeding the amount worked out under subsection 233BABAD(5) of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth), or both.
The Truganina man, Altona Meadows man, and Craigieburn man were charged with:
- Aid, abet, counsel or procure the importation of tobacco products with the intention of defrauding the revenue, contrary to section 232BABAD(1) of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth), by virtue of section 11.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth), punishable by imprisonment for 10 years, or a fine not exceeding the amount worked out under subsection 233BABAD(5) of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth), or both.
The Tarneit man was charged with:
- Dealing with proceeds of crime etc.--money or property worth $50,000 or more, contrary to section 400.5(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth), punishable by imprisonment for 15 years or 900 penalty units, or both.
- Fail to comply with an order under section 3LA(2) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) contrary to section 3LA(5) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), punishable by imprisonment for 10 years or 600 penalty units, or both.
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Superintendent Dan Ryan, Victoria Police:
"The warrants this week highlight the ability for these criminal syndicates to almost immediately continue business as usual even after significant law enforcement disruption. The enormous profit that organised crime is making from the sale of illicit tobacco means that they will do everything possible to ensure they keep on trading, no matter the risk.
"Over the past 12 months we have seen the illicit tobacco market become a significant driver of organised crime here in Victoria and with that has come a series of reckless and violent offending, particularly arson attacks. Disrupting these syndicates in every way possible and ensuring we keep the pressure on these groups remains a priority for Victoria Police, and we will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners such as the AFP and ABF to do this."
Quotes attributable to AFP Detective Acting Superintendent David MacGregor:
"The AFP, together with our state and Commonwealth partnerships are key to dismantling organised crime groups who attempt to profit from the importation of illicit commodities into Australia.
"Criminal syndicates will go to extreme lengths to illegally import any commodity that they can make money from. If you are an importer, distributer, seller or buyer of illicit tobacco, you are supporting organised criminals and funding other illicit activities."
Quotes attributable to ABF Commander Penny Spies:
"The ABF is targeting and seizing record levels of illicit tobacco at the border, demonstrating our commitment to tackling the illegal importation of tobacco, and making the Australian border a hostile environment for those seeking to conduct criminal behaviour."
"Working with our law enforcement partners such as the Victoria Police and with the AFP is critical to tackling the organised crime that is profiting from the importation and supply of illicit tobacco in Australia."
