WA Police, Victoria Police, the Australian Border Force and the WA Department of Health worked together to arrest thirteen people last week as part of a cross-border investigation into an organised crime group linked to the trafficking of illicit tobacco.
In April 2024, the WA Police Force Serious and Organised Crime Division established Taskforce Cosgrove in partnership with Victoria Police and Australian Border Force to investigate the illicit tobacco network and a series of arson offences in the Perth metropolitan area, alleged to be linked to the network and crime group.
Commander Ranjeev Maharaj from Australian Border Force said ABF officers have detected and seized record levels of illicit tobacco at Australian ports, making the supply chain a more hostile environment for criminal gangs looking to profit from the illicit tobacco market.
“Last financial year the ABF seized 1.7 billion illicit cigarettes in 120,000 consignments at the border, but this alone will not put an end to this insidious trade,” he said.
“While we make every attempt to stop illicit tobacco at the border, we also work closely with our law enforcement partners to target the sale of illicit tobacco at the retail level by supporting these operations,”
“The illicit tobacco trade is not a victimless crime, as profits raised from its sale fund other crimes, causing harm to the community in many ways.”
Due to an escalation in serious offences, the taskforce moved to resolution phase in June 2024.
As part of the joint operation, Victoria Police executed six warrants in Victoria on Monday, 17 June.
The warrants were executed by detectives from Taskforce Lunar and with assistance from VIPER Taskforce at residential properties in Sunbury, Wollert, Collingwood, Werribee (2) and Altona Meadows.
A 19-year-old Officer man was arrested in relation to the investigation into a suspicious fire at a tobacco store in Seville on 11 February. He was interviewed and released pending further enquiries.
Police seized 15 firearms from the Sunbury address, along with approximately 2.4 million illicit cigarettes, a gel blaster and a stolen vehicle.
The cigarettes are valued at approximately $2.4 million with a tax excise avoidance of between $2.5-3 million.
A 29-year-old Sunbury man was arrested at the property and subsequently charged with being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, theft of motor vehicle, possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms and Commonwealth tax offences relating to illicit cigarettes.
He was remanded in custody to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on 20 September.
A further 50,000 illicit cigarettes, 30 kilograms of loose tobacco, vapes, a crossbow, ammunition, cash and drugs including cocaine, steroids and magic mushrooms were seized from other addresses.
Police also arrested a 26-year-old Wollert man who is expected to be charged on summons with illicit tobacco offences and weapons offences, and a 28-year-old Collingwood man who was charged with drug and proceeds of crime offences. The latter was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 4 September 2024.
Between Sunday, 16 June and Tuesday, 18 June, 50 search warrants were executed at private residences, storage units, and retail outlets including tobacco and convenience stores and gift shops in regional WA and the Perth metropolitan area.
Seven men and two women, including some with alleged links to a Middle Eastern crime group, have been charged by WA Police Force in relation to a $10 million illicit tobacco network operating in Western Australia.
During the WA warrants the following was located and seized:
• 5.9 million illicit cigarettes;
• $1.7 million in cash;
• 1.4 tonnes of loose illicit tobacco;
• 41,000 vapes; and
• Five vehicles with a combined value of more than $500,000.
The head of the group in Western Australia – a 29-year-old man – previously from Victoria, is believed to have moved to WA in the last two years to establish the illicit tobacco network.
Nine people, including the 29-year-old man, were taken into custody during the warrants and have each been charged with receiving, possessing, concealing, disposing of or dealing with any money or other property that is the proceeds of an offence.
During the WA warrants, the ABF deployed a team of investigators, digital forensic officers, members of the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce and currency-trained detection dogs.
All tobacco products have been provided to the ABF for further investigation and consideration of additional charges under federal taxation laws.
Similarly, vape-related products have been provided to the WA Department of Health for further investigation.
The WA Department of Health’s Director of Public Health Regulation Neil Keen said this significant vape seizure highlights our commitment to cutting off the supply of illegal vapes, and their collaboration with the WA Police Force is crucial in these enforcement efforts.
“Intercepting these vapes before they can be unlawfully sold into the community will ultimately help to preserve the health and wellbeing of all Western Australians.”
The investigation into the network in Victoria and in Western Australia and associated arson offences remains ongoing.
Anyone with information about illicit tobacco is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
