The man was arrested for smuggling tobacco. (photo from Australian Border Service official website)
(ITTF), an anti-illegal tobacco task force led by the Australian Border Service (ABF), arrested and charged a man in Sydney for illegally importing tobacco into Australia through postal parcels.
The man has been using the Australian Post`s (Australia Post) package locker to smuggle illegal tobacco into northern Sydney since April 2018, with an estimated tax evasion of more than A $ two hundred and ten thousand, according to the Australian Border Service`s official website.
On Feb. 12, 2019, when the 35-year-old man returned to Australia from China, Australian border guards inspected his luggage and found two fake Chinese passports and two mobile phones. Law enforcement officials suspect this is the suspect`s smuggling tool.
Black (Susan Black), Australian Border Agency Special investigation Commander, said the arrests clearly demonstrated the Australian Border Agency`s ability to detect illicit tobacco import and distribution offences. She said potential criminals often assume that illegal goods can be sent anonymously, but Australian border guards and co-operation agencies have access to intelligence, experience and advanced technology to detect such smuggling crimes.
Blake noted that under the leadership of the Australian Border Guard, the Anti-illicit Tobacco Task Force had focused on the identification, targeting and capture of criminals, a move that showed that any tobacco smuggler would have nowhere to hide.
The arrested man has been charged under the Customs Act 1901 (Customs Act 1901 with one count of importing tobacco products for the purpose of tax fraud. The man, who has not applied for bail, will appear in court later this week.
Under Australian law, criminals importing tobacco products for the purpose of tax fraud are liable to a maximum penalty of 10 years or / and a fine.
It is understood that the Anti-illicit Tobacco Task Force is led by the Australian Border Guard and combines the operations, investigation and intelligence capabilities of various agencies, such as the Australian Border Guard, the (ATO), Home Office of the Australian Inland Revenue Service and the Australian Crime Intelligence Council (ACIC).
In addition, the Australian government will introduce new tobacco import regulations from July 1, 2019, making it illegal to import tobacco without a licence or in breach of permit conditions.
