West Australian family charged over their role in alleged ‘tobacco syndicate’

AFP said a search of storage units in surrounding suburbs uncovered more illegal tobacco.

“Police allege millions of dollars in Commonwealth excise duty and duty would have been avoided if the items seized yesterday were illegally distributed,” a spokesman said.

AFP Commander Renee Colley said it would take “whole community commitment to change perception and acceptance of illicit tobacco” following a series of firebombings in Victoria and Western Australia in recent weeks.

“The illicit tobacco trade is directly linked to acts of violence in our society, and these crimes are committed by organized crime groups seeking power and profit,” Colley said.

“I’m sure society is outraged that these groups are risking people’s lives and livelihoods for the sake of profit.”

Loading

While the woman and her father were accused of obtaining the proceeds of crime, her son-in-law was accused of disobeying the order.

“Investigations are ongoing, including into links to wider organized crime syndicates run by individuals overseas and into assets linked to the illicit tobacco trade,” an AFP spokesman said.

The AFP said it seized nearly $4 million in cash, nearly 13 tonnes of illicit tobacco linked to tobacco syndicates last year and charged 10 people in WA.

The arrests came as Western Australian police led their own Task Force Maverick, set up in response to increasing “tobacco war” violence.

Loading

Some stores in WA have been repeatedly targeted by thugs trying to scare store owners into selling their brands; some businesses have been firebombed up to four times in recent months.

Operation Maverick charged 11 people with a total of 51 offences, including criminal damage caused by fire, theft, traffic and drugs offences.

The state government is currently working on reforms to strengthen tobacco laws; Penalties for the illegal sale of tobacco or e-cigarettes in WA remain among the weakest in the country.