Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) detectives have charged seven people and dismantled two multi-million dollar criminal networks following combined investigations into trusted insiders, allegedly importing illicit tobacco and vapes into Australia.
The MAST is made up of 41 officers from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF), NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
The MAST – using investigators and analysts from both Commonwealth and NSW law enforcement agencies – leverages their capabilities, resources and legislative powers to investigate and target trusted insiders who are assisting transnational serious organised crime syndicates impacting NSW.
In May 2025, investigators established Strike Force Borderdale to investigate the alleged importation and supply of large quantities of illicit tobacco and vapes by a 53-year-old man and associates, using a bonded warehouse in Bankstown to circumvent border controls.
On Tuesday 3 February 2026, MAST investigators, with assistance from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), executed a search warrant at a commercial storage facility and two trucks on Parramatta Road, Burwood. During the search, investigators seized 91,000 vapes with an estimated street value of $6.8 million, and a loaded Glock pistol.
A 28-year-old man was arrested and taken to Burwood Police Station, where he was charged with possess unauthorised pistol and use, supply, acquire or possess defaced firearm. He was refused bail and appeared before Burwood Local Court the next day (Wednesday 4 February 2026).
On Tuesday 21 July 2026, MAST investigators, with assistance from the TGA, executed a further two search warrants at properties in Revesby and Marrickville, seizing 191,654 vapes with an estimated street value of $14.3 million. TGA are continuing their inquiries into the alleged offenders involved into this vape seizure.
As inquiries continued, from 6am yesterday (Thursday 13 August 2026), investigators executed five search warrants in Bankstown, Barangaroo, Cremorne Point, Silverwater and Revesby, as well as Commonwealth search warrants in Brisbane and Melbourne.
Across the searches, investigators seized $300,000 in gold bullion, $172,000 in cash, $1.5m in luxury watches, $1m of luxury handbags, two firearms, 1.65 tonnes of 1-4 Butanediol, 350,000 cigarettes and five vehicles.
NSW Crime Commission froze over $25 million in assets, including 14 properties across NSW and Victoria, multiple bank accounts, significant shareholdings connected to logistics companies and the seizure of a luxury motor vehicle in NSW.
ABF has issued the immediate suspension of depot licences in Sydney and Brisbane, with a notice of intent to cancel in Melbourne for the national freight forwarding company.
A 53-year-old man was arrested in Barangaroo and taken to Day Street Police Station, where he was charged with six counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, five counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime and possess unauthorised pistol.
He was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Local Court 7 today (Friday 14 August 2026).
In Silverwater, a 53-year-old man was arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station, where he was charged with six counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, five counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime.
He was refused bail and appeared at Burwood Local Court yesterday (Thursday 13 August 2026).
About 2pm yesterday, a 46-year-old man was arrested at Sydney Airport and taken to Mascot Police Station, where he was charged with six counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, five counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime.
He was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Local Court 7 today (Friday 14 August 2026).
Previously, in December 2025, investigators established Strike Force Benberta to investigate the alleged importation of large quantities of illicit tobacco by a 26-year-old man and associates, using a freight forwarding company in Moorebank to circumvent border controls via sea and airfreight.
Detectives will allege since May 2026, about 88 air cargo consignments of illicit tobacco were allegedly imported and kept in a storage facility, before being distributed to stores and wholesale distributers.
Following extensive inquiries, on Thursday 6 August 2026, MAST investigators, with assistance from NSW Health, executed six Commonwealth search warrants in Prestons, Bass Hill, Roselands, Moorebank and Sefton, seizing 51 boxes of illicit tobacco, $690,000 in cash, and steroids.
A 26-year-old man was arrested at a home in Prestons and taken to Liverpool Police Station, where he was charged with import tobacco products with intent to defraud revenue, convey tobacco products know of intent defraud revenue, and deal in indictable crime proceeds: money/property less than or equal to $1 million.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Thursday 27 August 2026.
In Roselands, a 66-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Campsie Police Station, where she was charged with deal with suspected proceeds of indictable crime greater than $100,000.
She was refused bail and appeared at Bankstown Local Court on Friday 7 August 2026, where she was formally refused bail to appear in the same court on Tuesday 25 August 2026.
As inquiries continued into the Bass Hill warrant, about 11am on Tuesday 11 August 2026, MAST investigators arrested a 27-year-old man at Bankstown Police Station, where he was charged with convey tobacco products know of intent defraud revenue and intend as instrument of crime, money/property greater than $100,000.
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
NSWPF State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Watson said this operation demonstrates exactly why the MAST exists.
“These arrests and seizures show that when Commonwealth and NSW agencies combine their intelligence, powers and capability, organised crime groups have nowhere to hide,” Det Supt Watson said.
“The quantities of illicit tobacco and vapes seized in this investigation are staggering. These products are being moved through the same logistics networks that Australians rely on every day. Removing them from circulation prevents millions of dollars flowing back into organised crime.”
AFP Detective Inspector Dan Burnicle said trusted insiders played a critical role in enabling crime networks to move illicit tobacco into, and around, Australia.
“Trusted insiders who exploit their positions within legitimate industries pose a significant threat to Australia’s border security and our community,” Det Insp Burnicle said.
“The AFP and our MAST partners are committed to identifying those facilitating this organised criminal activity and ensuring they are held accountable.”
ABF Superintendent Geoff Quinn said the ABF expects all licensed operators to comply with their licence conditions and maintain the highest standards of integrity.
“When breaches are identified, the ABF will not hesitate to take action to address the risk and protect the community, including suspending or cancelling licences,” Supt Quinn said.
“The Australian Border Force is proud to work alongside our partner agencies through the Multi-Agency Strike Team to identify and disrupt trusted insider threats and criminal activity impacting the Australian border.”
ATO Deputy Commissioner Pennie Snowden said: “The ATO and the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce will continue to work with, and support, our partner agencies, sharing resources and capabilities to ensure those who break the law are held to account and stripped of the financial benefits of their crimes. These outcomes reflect the Taskforce’s dedication to ensuring a level playing field across the community.”
Executive Director of Operations, New South Wales Crime Commission, Darren Bennett said: “The NSWCC has been involved in this joint effort by law enforcement since the investigation started. As a result of the efforts of the police, the NSWCC have been able to restrain over $25 million in assets including 14 properties, motor vehicles, and cash. We will start the process aimed at returning the proceeds of crime to the people of NSW.”
ATO Deputy Commissioner Pennie Snowden said: “The ATO and the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce will continue to work with and support our partner agencies sharing resources and capabilities to ensure those who break the law are held to account and stripped of the financial benefits of their crimes. These outcomes reflect the Taskforce’s dedication to ensuring a level playing field across the community.”
AUSTRAC National Manager Law Enforcement, Anthony Helmond, said: “MAST demonstrates the power of agencies working together, with AUSTRAC’s financial intelligence helping identify key financial connections and support operational outcomes.”
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
