A West Australian man is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today (28 March, 2025) following the seizure of about $2.6 million in cash and illegal tobacco and vaping products across Perth overnight.
The AFP charged the Baldivis man, 26, today (28 March, 2025) under Operation Snug, an investigation into an organised crime group allegedly dealing in the proceeds of crime from the sale of illicit tobacco and vaping products in WA.
It will be alleged the man co-ordinated the importation of illicit tobacco products from the eastern states, before selling them at three tobacco stores in Perth and then sending the profits back to an organised crime group in the eastern states.
On 27 March, 2025, the AFP executed search warrants at the man's residence in Baldivis, a courier company in Perth's southern suburbs, and various storage facilities across Perth.
At the courier company, AFP officers seized about $900,000 cash concealed in packaged microwave ovens waiting to be shipped to Melbourne. The AFP seized about 645,000 cigarettes, 19,000 vapes, and 200 pouches of loose-leaf tobacco at the other locations.
The man was charged with:
- One count of dealing with money or property, believed to be the proceeds of crime and at the time of the dealing the value of the money or property was $100,000 or more, contrary to section 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 years' imprisonment; and
- One count of possession of tobacco being an excisable good where excise duty is payable on the tobacco and the weight is 100kg or more, contrary to division 308, section 115 of the Taxation Administration Act (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is five years' imprisonment.
AFP Inspector Chris Colley said the AFP would continue to target organised crime groups that attempted to profit from the sale of illegal tobacco products in the community.
"The AFP is dedicated to protecting the Australian community from serious organised crime syndicates by disrupting and dismantling these illegal operations," Insp Colley said.
"These criminals have no regard for the significant health issues these products present for the community and the burden they place on our health systems.
"Criminal networks also use the profits from the sale of illicit tobacco products to support other serious criminal activities.
"The message to these criminals is simple, the AFP won't stop until it has shut down your illegal and harmful activities."
Investigations under Operation Snug are ongoing.
