Authorities issued a strong caution today to those participating in the lucrative illicit trade.
Assistant Commissioner Tony Smith of ABF customs compliance and enforcement remarked, “This action thwarted the theft of over $2 billion in duty from Australian taxpayers.”
Within a span of just four months, officials have confiscated hundreds of tonnes of loose-leaf tobacco along with 800 million cigarettes.
Lined up, these cigarettes would cover more than 71,000 kilometers, nearly enough to circle the globe twice.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of four million vaping devices.
Operation Printwall commander Andrew Tankey noted, “This demonstrates a focused and strategic initiative spanning all areas, from air and sea operations to traveler and mail inspections.”
The majority of illicit products stripped from the supply chain came from Asia.
One woman arrived from Bali with boxes upon boxes of cigarettes, far more than the legal limit.
Offshore, the ABF also blocked more than 35 million cigarettes and 560,000 vapes from even arriving into Australia.
“Make no mistake, this is intelligence-led enforcement at pace and scale,” Smith said.
“If you move it, you store it or distribute it, you’re in our sights.”
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