As tobacco prices soar, many smokers who do not want to pay high prices to buy cigarettes from regular retailers are fueling the booming illegal tobacco black market in southeastern Melbourne.
The sale of smuggled tobacco contributes to crime and makes it difficult for legitimate retailers to compete, according to the Herald Sun.
According to government data, (ABF), the Australian border guard, seized more than 286600 pieces of illegal tobacco in the last fiscal year.
More than 426.2 million cigarettes and 310.6 tons of tobacco were seized, equivalent to more than A $668.9 million in tax evasion.
Last week, an ABF task force raided four house in Melbourne, a warehouse and three commercial real estate, seized a large number of illegal cigarettes, tobacco, cigarette manufacturing supplies, drug appliances and a car, and detain worked in the manufacturing plant of three illegal non-citizen.
Illegal cigarettes are easy to buy at Dandenong Market, the report said.
Last week at a booth, people lined up to buy illegal cigarette cases hidden under the counter.
According to a box of cigarettes obtained by the media, the cigarette was sold as a Rollo Red filter, but full of prohibited tobacco.
A woman said she bought from the stall once a week for price reasons.
"I bought 200 cigarettes for $80. Why didn`t I come here? Save so much money now...".
"I don`t think what they did was wrong. The fact is, when you try to quit smoking, getting support and products is too expensive. That`s why I haven`t quit smoking yet."
In Victoria, the price of a pack of 25 cigarettes is reported to be about A $45.
Another Dandenong woman revealed that she buys illegal Chinese imported cigarettes every week through Uber delivery on-site service.
"I met a seller at a market booth and he asked me to order cigarettes by text message and deliver them directly to my door every week," she said.
"it`s simple and convenient, and the quality of cigarettes is very good, and a lot of people are doing it."
ABF speaker warned criminal groups to use illegal tobacco profits to fund other "illegal activities".
Speaker said:
"Criminal syndicates and undeclared tobacco importers are driven by Australian cigarette duty rates, which are among the highest in the world."
"this makes tobacco smuggling companies more attractive and profitable. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of transnational criminal groups seeking access to Australia`s illegal tobacco market at ABF,."
"those criminal organizations tend to be well-developed, well-funded and well organized."
In early October, the 35-year-old Chinese city Xin Wang was reportedly detained for participating in the illegal smuggling of cigarettes from China.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison at County Court on October 2nd.
He had previously admitted that he knew tobacco products were imported illegally, but tried to distribute them in an attempt to deceive Australia`s government.
On June 5, 2018, Xin Wang, whose visa expired, was found carrying cigarettes and A $160000 in cash in Australia by ABF officials.
He has been under ABF surveillance since he was found at Wheelers Hill`s home in April after illegal cigarette tracking.
It was found that Xin Wang delivered an envelope to two people who received illegal goods.
Some of the estimated 800000 Chinese brands of cigarettes have been loaded into cars bound for Springvale station.
It is estimated that the cigarettes will cost government more than A $560000 in revenue.
Xin Wang also admitted to handling funds from suspected crimes and was sentenced to 22 months in prison, but suspended for 10 months.
By the time of the verdict, he had been detain for 485 days, so he did not appear in court.
Co-accused Han Hua Chen fled to China, but if he returns to Australia, he will be prosecute.
A third man associated with the plan disagreed with several accusation items and will appear in court next year.
Last week, an unnamed Dandenong tobacco dealer said "people of all ages, including students," came to her store to buy illegal cigarettes.
Brett Jackson, head of parliament Planning and Design in Greater Dandenong, said:
According to the Tobacco Act, the maximum penalty for tobacco retailers who process illegal tobacco is a fine of A $198264.
A personal fine of A $39652.
