The Australian Border Force (ABF) led Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF) has arrested and charged a man in Sydney in relation to suspected systemic exploitation of the mail system to import illicit tobacco.
It is alleged that since April 2018 the man was misusing Australia Post parcel lockers to smuggle illicit tobacco into Northern Sydney. The alleged revenue evaded is estimated to be more than $210,000.
On 12 February 2019, the 35-year-old man’s baggage was examined by the ABF on his return into Australia from China. Two counterfeit Chinese passports and two mobile phones were found, suspected of being used to facilitate the imports.
ABF Commander Special Investigations, Susan Black, said the arrest should send a clear message to individuals about the ABF’s ability to detect and investigate illicit tobacco being imported and distributed.
“People often think sending illicit goods through the mail can be done anonymously but by using intelligence, highly skilled officers and sophisticated technology the ABF and our partners are more than capable of detecting and investigating these imports,” Commander Black said.
“The ABF is leading the ITTF to focus on identifying, targeting, disrupting and dismantling individuals, who trade in illicit tobacco and this seizure demonstrates that there is nowhere to hide.”
The man was charged with one count of importing tobacco products with intent to defraud revenue under the Customs Act 1901. He did not apply for bail and is due to appear in court later this week.
The maximum penalty for importing tobacco products with intent to defraud the Commonwealth Government of revenue is 10 years imprisonment or a fine or both.
The ITTF is an ABF-led taskforce that combines the operational, investigative and intelligence capabilities of the ABF, ATO, Department of Home Affairs, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP).
The Australian Government is also introducing new tobacco import requirements from 1 July 2019 making it illegal for anyone to import tobacco without a permit, or in contravention of permit conditions.
