Approximately 16 tonnes of tobacco has been destroyed after an illegal plantation in New South Wales’ central west was raided, prompting authorities to flag a blooming trend amongst organised crime syndicates.
A joint investigation between NSW Police and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) was launched last year after authorities caught wind an illegal crop was being grown on a property in Murga, approximately 55km east of Parkes.
ATO investigators attended the property last Wednesday.
There they located, seized and destroyed the crop.
No arrests were made after the raid, and investigations are continue.
The crop was estimated to have a potential excise of more than $28 million.
Authorities explained organised crime syndicates run illicit tobacco growing operations around Australia to fund criminal behaviour.
The Commander of Operation Phobetor – a joint agency team comprising of NSW Police, Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) – said the raid would send shockwaves through crime networks.
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“The seizure of this tobacco has resulted in the disruption of the syndicate’s supply chain, which in turn means the profits aren’t funnelled into organised crime,” Detective Superintendent Stuart Cadden said.
“The tobacco is simply one source of income that organised criminals use to fund their other illicit activities.
“The NSW Police Force, the AFP, the ACIC, and all our other partner agencies will continue to conduct operations targeting illicit activities. Collaborative efforts are necessary to target any criminal activity which brings potential harm to our community.”
Australian Border Force (ABF) Superintendent Sasha Barclay said criminal syndicates are increasingly turning to growing illicit tobacco crops.
“What we’re seeing is more and more criminal syndicates are trying their hand at cultivation to keep up supply as ABF continues to increase the amount of illicit tobacco being detected and seized at the border,” Superintendent Barclay said.
“These criminal syndicates are sophisticated and run like a business, so they will do whatever it takes to ensure they have a supply and can continue to bring in a profit at the expense of legitimate business owners and the wider Australian community.”
It has been illegal to grow tobacco in Australia for more than a decade, doing so could result in 10 years imprisonment if convicted.
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