04/12/2023
Members from the VIPER Taskforce have charged a man overnight and seized a significant quantity of illicit tobacco products as part of the ongoing Taskforce Lunar investigation into organised crime syndicates linked to illicit tobacco.
This particular investigation commenced after police received intelligence to suggest large amounts of illicit tobacco were being stored in sheds to be supplied to tobacconists on a daily basis.
Members of the taskforce yesterday executed warrants at a residential address in Hoppers Crossing, three storage facilities in Highett and Korumburra (2) as well as a tobacco store in Korumburra.
As a result, the following was seized:
- Over 528,000 cigarettes with duty excise totalling over $656,000
- 25kg of loose leaf tobacco with duty excise evaded totalling over $46,000, and
- Over 1600 e-cigarettes (vapes) with a street value of over $48,000.
For further information in relation to this story, please visit: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/viper-seize-further-illicit-tobacco-products