Australia Seizes 586M Cigarettes & 3M Vapes in Crackdown
The Australian Border Force (ABF) has reported unprecedented success in its fight against illicit tobacco and vaping products, seizing a staggering 586 million cigarettes and over 3 million vapes at the international border in just the first quarter of the financial year (July 1 – September 30). This represents a sharp upward trajectory in seizure volumes compared to the same period in the last two years, demonstrating the growing scale of both the illicit trade and the ABF’s enhanced enforcement capabilities.
ABF Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement Commander Greg Dowse stated that the recent seizures show criminals are becoming more brazen, attempting to import larger quantities at a time and often using deceptive methods to conceal their shipments. However, he emphasized that enhanced intelligence, information sharing, and strong cooperation with international partners are allowing the ABF to better target high-risk consignments before they even reach Australian shores.
Several significant seizures across the country highlight the creative and audacious tactics being used by smugglers:
- Queensland:Â In July, nearly two tonnes of tobacco were discovered in a shipping container from China, mis-described as furniture. Weeks later, a traveler arriving in Brisbane from Lebanon was found with over 30kg of tobacco and 2,500 cigarettes concealed in shorts pockets and rolled into socks.
- Western Australia & NSW:Â A major joint agency operation was launched after ABF officers in Fremantle found over 4 million cigarettes hidden behind a false brick wall inside a shipping container in August. This cross-border investigation has already led to the seizure of an estimated $24 million in crime proceeds in New South Wales and is ongoing.
- Victoria:Â Also in August, a man previously warned against smuggling was stopped at Melbourne Airport, leading to the discovery of over 68,000 cigarettes among him and his associates. In a separate incident, a massive 6.5 tonnes of tobacco were seized from a sea cargo shipment from China, again falsely declared as furniture.
- New South Wales:Â A near-record breaking seizure in Sydney in mid-September uncovered over 95,000 vapes in a sea cargo shipment from China, which had been incorrectly described as “perforated strips.”
Commander Dowse sent a clear message to criminal networks: “Many of our larger seizures can be attributed to our successful offshore relationships… By regularly sharing intelligence we can target and identify consignments of illicit tobacco and vapes before they have even reached our shores. We want criminals to know that our evolving intelligence and enhanced information sharing is outsmarting any evasion attempt.”
The ABF encourages anyone with information about the importation of illicit tobacco or cigarettes to contact Border Watch, noting that information can be provided anonymously.
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