31/10/2024
Detectives from the VIPER and Lunar taskforces have this morning charged eight people with Commonwealth offences for their part in directing and assisting an organised crime syndicate.
It will be alleged the syndicate was leasing stores, employing staff as supervisors, store managers and couriers and commencing deliveries under the guise of operating the stores as legitimate gifts and confectionary stores, while selling only illicit tobacco and related products.
Investigators have obtained transactional records which reflect the syndicate earned over $30 million in a 12-month period through the sale of illicit tobacco in these stores.
Supported by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Australian Border Force’s (ABF) Illicit Tobacco Taskforce and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), officers today executed more than 27 search warrants across Victoria as part of an ongoing investigation targeting serious organised crime in the illicit tobacco market.
With assistance from Taskforce Lunar, the Armed Crime Squad, the Illicit Firearms Squad, Financial Crime Squad, Criminal Proceeds Squad, Joint Organised Crime Taskforce, Echo Taskforce, Cybercrime Squad, Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team, Wyndham, Knox, Hobsons Bay, Echuca, Cobram, Ararat, Northern Grampians and Geelong Crime Investigation Units, Westgate Divisional Response Unit, Eastern Region Crime Squad and State Highway Patrol, search warrants were executed from 5am this morning at tobacco stores, warehouses and residential addresses statewide.
Three industrial properties in Truganina were searched, as well as residential addresses in Truganina, Hoppers Crossing (3), Glen Waverley, Lara, Grovedale, Footscray and Mount Cottrell, and tobacco stores in Herne Hill, Bell Park, Grovedale, Werribee (2), Dallas, Kensington, Boronia, Ararat (3), Kyabram, Echuca (2) and Yarrawonga.
A 25-year-old Hoppers Crossing man was arrested at Melbourne Airport just before 6:00 am.
He has since been charged with the Commonwealth offence of directing the activities of a criminal organisation, possess tobacco products with the intent of defrauding the revenue (Customs Act 1901), possess proceeds of crime and sell/distribute e-cigarettes.
He will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later today.
Directing the activities of a criminal organisation carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Four other people were arrested and have been charged with the same offences.
They include:
- a 26-year-old Hoppers Crossing man, who will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later today
- a 21-year-old Hoppers Crossing man, who will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later today
- a 50-year-old Grovedale woman, and
- a 51-year-old Glen Waverley man, both of whom have been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday (28 October).
Five other people were arrested, including:
- a 25-year-old Hoppers Crossing man, who was arrested in Ararat and charged with support a criminal organisation and illicit tobacco offences
- a 46-year-old Ararat man, who was arrested in Ararat and charged with support a criminal Organisation and illicit tobacco offences
- a 38-year-old Tarneit man who was arrested attempting to remove stock from a retail outlet in Werribee. He was charged with support a criminal organisation and illicit tobacco offences
- a 50-year-old Mount Cotterill man was arrested in relation to illicit tobacco and possession of commercial cigarette manufacturing equipment located. He was released and is expected to be charged on summons, and
- a 21-year-old Yarrawonga man was interviewed and released, he is also expected to be charged on summons.
During the warrants, police seized a Lamborghini Coupe and Range Rover from the Hoppers Crossing address, at least 600,000 illicit tobacco sticks, over 75 kgs of loose-leaf tobacco and a significant quantity of cash from the residential addresses as well as utilities and vans investigators will allege were used in the distribution of illicit tobacco.
Searches of the tobacco stores are still underway with total seizures to be confirmed.
The investigation commenced in December 2023 to specifically target and disrupt the trade of illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes linked to this organised crime syndicate.
Over 130 members were involved in today’s activities, including the entirety of the VIPER Taskforce office.
Victoria Police continues to support local councils and the Victorian Department of Health who have responsibility for tobacco and vape enforcement and compliance.
Detectives continue to work alongside external agencies such as the ABF, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AFP, TGA, ATO and interstate counterparts.
Victoria Police has identified a number of state, national and global organised crime syndicates involved in the illicit tobacco conflict.
These syndicates are comprised of personnel from Middle Eastern organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs who are then engaging local networked youth and youth gangs to carry out the offending.
Investigators continue to appeal to anyone, especially store owners and staff, who have information about these incidents and who is responsible to come forward.
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