Overseas criminals using visitors to smuggle in tobacco: ABF

Overseas visitors are being recruited to smuggle cigarettes into the country – and the Australian Border Force (ABF) are warning them not to try.

In a media statement, the ABF says overseas visitors face having their visas cancelled and may be banned from the country for three years.

Since July 1, ABF officers around the country intercepted and refused entry to 24 visitors who tried to smuggle more than 800,000 cigarettes worth more than $1 million.

ABF Commander Ken McKern says it appeared the visitors they stopped were working for criminal syndicates.

“Recently, there has been increasing detections of passengers departing from airports across Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore attempting to smuggle cigarettes into Australia,” he says.

“What we find is that passengers attempt to smuggle undeclared cigarettes in their luggage via carry-on or checked luggage before passing them to criminal groups in Australia.”

Commander McKern says the perception that tobacco smuggling is a victimless crime is far from the truth.

“Organised criminal groups generate significant profits from the sale of illicit tobacco, which fund other criminal activities such as illicit drug trafficking,” he says.

The ABF listed several cases of overseas visitors caught trying to smuggle cigarettes through customs: ​

• September 7: four Japanese nationals were caught at Brisbane International Airport with 141,015 cigarettes in their luggage;
• August 24: two Japanese nationals tried to smuggle more than 70,600 cigarettes through Melbourne International Airport;
• July 30: a Japanese national tried to smuggle more than 34,000 cigarettes through Perth International Airport; and
• July 5-6: nine Japanese nationals tried to smuggle more than 330,000 cigarettes through Sydney International Airport. ​

All of the cigarettes were seized, visas were cancelled and the visitors were deported.

Australia’s interim Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette (ITEC) Commissioner, Erin Dale says the ABF works with overseas customs authorities to prevent tobacco smuggling.

“… enforcement at the border is only one response that complements a range of activities, including education, health and domestic enforcement and compliance,” she says.

“Border enforcement alone cannot stem the flow of illicit goods into Australia.

“Illegal importers are determined to circumvent border controls and take advantage of the Australian people,” she says.

“The trade is domestic and international in scope and we’re working to ensure collaborative efforts between local, state, federal, and international law enforcement partners to combat the issue.”

Passengers seeking more information on what can be brought into Australia can check the ABF website here: www.abf.gov.au