In short:
Police intercepted a truck in Laverton North loaded with four million cigarettes worth $5 million. The bust is part of a $7.2M crackdown on an organised crime syndicate.
Police also seize Rolex watches and cash
A truck intercepted in Laverton North has been tied to one of Victoria’s biggest illicit tobacco busts, with police seizing more than $7.2 million worth of tobacco, cash and luxury watches in a major organised crime investigation.
Detectives from the Criminal Proceeds Squad and Taskforce Lunar, supported by the Australian Border Force, executed warrants on 21 August at two Dallas homes and a business in Epping.
A 40-year-old Dallas man was arrested and is expected to be charged on summons with possessing a commercial quantity of illicit tobacco and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime. Police seized over $1.9 million worth of illicit tobacco, including 475,400 cigarettes and 624 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco, along with around $80,000 cash, six high-end watches valued at more than $119,000, and electronic devices. The watches included a Breitling, Franck Mueller and four Rolex.
The investigation, which began in January, alleges an organised crime syndicate laundered more than $83 million in cash through businesses in Somerton and Epping linked to the sale of illicit goods.
In a connected case, detectives from the Illicit Firearms Squad arrested a 34-year-old Campbellfield man after intercepting a truck in Laverton North containing more than four million cigarettes worth an estimated $5 million. Police also seized $100,000 in cash from his home. Investigators believe the man has links to the same crime syndicate.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks of Taskforce Lunar said the public should feel outraged at the scale of offending.
“These investigations highlight the significant broader criminality that these serious and organised crime groups are engaged in,” he said. “We are never talking about just illicit tobacco – this offending consistently goes hand in hand with other serious and violent crime. That could be money laundering and illicit firearms, which we’ve seen in these investigations, or the arson attacks and extortions we’ve seen play out across the state.”
Banks added, “This money is undoubtedly funding further violent crimes committed by those involved in this syndicate. For that reason, today’s result is incredibly satisfying.”
Both investigations remain ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
