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Australian Border Force officers uncover more than 334,000 cigarettes and cigars hidden in boxes from China

Headshot of Rourke Walsh
Rourke WalshThe West Australian
The cigarettes seized by ABF officers.
Camera IconThe cigarettes seized by ABF officers. Credit: Australian Border Force/Australian Border Force

Two men could face prison time and up to $1.5 million in fines if convicted after Australian Border Force officers seized more than 334,000 illegal cigarettes and cigars hidden inside boxes sent from China.

The men, aged 33 and 36, were arrested and charged during separate raids after the alleged illicit cigarette smuggling concealment was discovered at Fremantle Port on July 17 inside the boxes made from quartz stone slabs.

Officers at the ABF’s Fremantle Container Examination Facility initially X-rayed the sea container and discovered anomalies in three of the 13 crates inside. ABF tobacco detector dog Nayla then gave a positive reaction to the crates, which were at the rear of the sea container.

ABF officers cracked open the lids of the three suspect boxes and allegedly found 334,000 cigarettes and 280 cigars which should have had a combined duty and GST of almost $350,000.

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The cigarettes were concealed in large boxes made from quartz stone slabs.
Camera IconThe cigarettes were concealed in large boxes made from quartz stone slabs. Credit: Australian Border Force/Australian Border Force

The 33-year-old man, a Korean national living in Lynwood on a temporary visa, was arrested at a warehouse in O’Connor last Wednesday after he was allegedly caught packing some of the boxes of cigarettes from the sea container into his car.

He has been charged with possessing tobacco products known to be imported with the intent to defraud the revenue.

The maximum penalty is 10 years prison and a fine of up to five times the amount of duty payable, which in this case could be more than $1.5 million.

The 36 year-old, an Australian permanent resident, was arrested at the same warehouse the following day and has been charged with conveying tobacco products reckless as to whether the goods were imported with intent to defraud the revenue and importing prohibited tobacco products.

The maximum penalty for the first alleged offence is five years prison and a fine of up to $1.5 million. The second alleged offence carries only a financial penalty of up to five times the amount of duty payable.

ABF tobacco detector dog Nayla gave a positive reaction to the crates at the rear of the sea container.
Camera IconABF tobacco detector dog Nayla gave a positive reaction to the crates at the rear of the sea container. Credit: Australian Border Force/Australian Border Force

The ABF said investigations to identify other people involved in the importation of of the illicit tobacco are ongoing. Last financial year the ABF seized more than 421 million cigarettes.

ABF Regional Commander for WA James Copeman said importing illicit cigarettes put money into the hands of organised crime and took away potential income from retailers who abide by the law.

He said the smuggling of illicit cigarettes across the Australian border meant payment of a significant amount of duty and GST was avoided.

“Fortunately our frontline officers have the skills and the technology to detect even the most creative and determined of concealments.”

Both men were released on bail and will appear in Perth Magistrate’s Court again on August 14.

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