ATO taskforces continue illicit tobacco hunt with 27 warrants
Eight people from Victoria have been charged with Commonwealth offences for involvement in an illicit tobacco organised crime syndicate.
Detectives from the VIPER and Lunar taskforces revealed the charged criminals in the syndicate were allegedly leasing stores and employing staff as supervisors, store managers and couriers.
The taskforces said the syndicate had allegedly commenced deliveries under the guise of operating the stores as legitimate gifts and confectionery stores while selling only illicit tobacco and related products.
According to investigators, transactional records highlighted that the syndicate had earned over $30 million over a 12-month period.
Crime Command Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said organised crime syndicates and their serious offending linked to the infiltration of the tobacco industry remain a top priority for Victoria Police.
“Those involved have the potential and the propensity to commit serious acts of violence and given their complete disregard for the safety of others, pose a serious risk to the community. Their criminality cannot be tolerated,” he said.
Twenty-seven search warrants were executed at 5am on Wednesday, 23 October across Victoria as part of the ongoing investigation targeted at serious organised crime in the illicit tobacco market.
The search warrants of tobacco stores, warehouses and residential addresses across Victoria were supported by the Australian Federal Police, the ATO, the Australian Border Force, the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce and Therapeutic Goods Administration and multiple squads.
Three industrial properties as well as some residential addresses in Truganina were searched.
This included three in Hoppers Crossing, Glen Waverley, Lara, Grovedale, Footscray, and Mount Cotterell.
Tobacco stores were also searched in Herne Hill, Bell Park, Grovedale, Werribee, Dallas, Kensington, Boronia, Arat, Kyabram, Echuca and Yarrawonga.
The taskforces said a 25-year-old Hoppers Crossing man was arrested at Melbourne Airport just before 6am yesterday and was set to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later that day.
The man was charged with directing activities of a criminal organisation, the possession of tobacco products with the intent of defrauding the revenue and the proceeds of crime in selling/distributing e-cigarettes.
The taskforces arrested and charged four other people between the ages of 21 and 51 with the same offences.
The individuals came from the areas of Hoppers Crossing, Grovedale and Waverley.
Five other people between the ages of 21 and 50 were also arrested and came from the regional areas of Hoppers Crossing, Ararat, Tarneit, Mount Cotterill and Yarrawonga.
Assistant Commissioner O’Brien said the disruption of the syndicate would substantially impact the illicit tobacco trade.
“These were significant players who we believe were directing the activity of a criminal organisation, turning a huge profit at the expense of others,” he said.
Police said they seized a Lamborghini Coupe and Range Rover from a Hoppers Crossing address, as well as 600,000 tobacco sticks, over 75kg of loose-leaf tobacco and a significant quantity of cash during the warrants.
It was noted searches of the tobacco stores were still underway and that the total number of seizures was yet to be confirmed.
ATO acting assistant commissioner Justin Clarke said the whole government response had been a successful step forward in addressing the Victorian tobacco dispute.
“These arrests and seizures show our commitment to stamping out illicit tobacco and removing it from our communities,” Clarke said.
“With the help of our partners, we continue to support coordinated efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle these organised crime syndicates who use profits from illicit tobacco to fund other serious illegal activities.”
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