November 5th, 2023Lunar and VIPER seize over $2M of illicit tobacco products in regional Victoria

Members from VIPER taskforce executed 16 warrants across regional Victoria, including Ballarat, last week as part of the ongoing Taskforce Lunar investigation into organised crime syndicates linked to illicit tobacco.

Members of the taskforce were joined at the warrants by police from the Shepparton, Seymour, Yarrawonga and Ballarat Crime Investigation Units, along with representatives from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and the Australian Border Force’s Illicit Tobacco Taskforce.

Police attended 16 stores in Ballarat (8), Shepparton (6) and Seymour, Yarrawonga last Thursday, 26 October.

As a result, the following was seized:

• 39,184 e-cigarettes (vapes) with a street value of over $1.1M;

• 611,833 cigarettes with duty excise evaded totalling over $760,000;

• 153kg of loose tobacco with duty excise evaded totalling over $280,000; and

• Over $16,000 cash, which police will allege to be the proceeds of crime.

An additional thirty six warrants had been executed on Wednesday (18 October) and Thursday (19 October) of last week at 34 retail outlets and two residential properties across Melbourne.

Six people were arrested over the two-day period, with a 40-year-old Northcote man charged in relation to drug trafficking offences.

The other five people were released pending further enquiries.

The combined seizures of the four day operation include;

• 92,331 e-cigarettes (vapes), with a street value of over $2.7M;

• 1,324,268 cigarettes with duty excise evaded totalling over $1.6M;

• Approximately 901kg loose-leaf tobacco – with duty excise evaded totalling $1.6M;

• 2kg of cannabis;

• 1kg of cocaine;

• $42,901 proceeds of crime;

• 2 x ASP batons; and

• industrial tobacco manufacturing equipment.

The warrants form part of the Taskforce Lunar investigation into organised crime syndicates believed to be heavily involved in the illicit tobacco trade and an ongoing dispute for profit.

These warrants were executed with the support of the Australian Border Force’s Illicit Tobacco Taskforce and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Investigators continue to appeal to anyone, especially store owners and staff, who has information about these incidents and who is responsible to come forward.

Anyone with information about these incidents or with further information about illicit tobacco is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report via the Crime Stoppers website.