The Australian Border Force (ABF) has made significant strides in combating the illegal tobacco trade, seizing over 46 million illicit cigarettes valued at approximately $31 million at the New South Wales border between late June and mid-July. This operation resulted in the confiscation of four shipping containers filled with these smuggled goods.
Authorities issued a Court Attendance notice to a 42-year-old man, charging him with two counts of importing tobacco products with the intent to defraud the nation’s revenue. These charges are associated with the discovery of about 25 million illegal cigarettes in two of the containers.
The operations surrounding this case are part of a broader initiative named Strike Force Aulic, established in September 2023, aimed at curtailing the illicit tobacco market in Australia. According to the Australian Tax Office, over $6 billion worth of illicit tobacco was attempted to be smuggled into Australia in the 2022-2023 financial year alone.
Strike Force Aulic is dedicated to identifying individuals who are believed to be facilitating serious organised crime syndicates linked to the illicit trade within New South Wales. The task force has also been investigating the activities of the accused man and his associates concerning the importation and distribution of prohibited drugs and illegal tobacco. The syndicate allegedly claimed they had methods to bypass border security measures.
To date, seven individuals connected to the organised crime network have been charged and are currently before the courts. The accused man in this latest case is scheduled to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on July 31. The ongoing efforts of the ABF and Strike Force Aulic underscore the commitment to tackling the growing issue of illegal tobacco in Australia.