{"id":90239,"date":"2026-09-07T14:13:24","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T14:13:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/90239\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T14:13:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T14:13:24","slug":"16-million-haul-seized-by-police-as-aussie-issue-escalates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/90239\/","title":{"rendered":"$16 million haul seized by police as Aussie issue escalates"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 16 million illegal cigarettes<\/a> and $1.6 million in cash have been seized in a massive police operation in Sydney that saw five men charged.<\/p>\n

Authorities believe the men are part of an alleged money laundering<\/a> network, and further allege the syndicate laundered $68 million over a two-year period.<\/p>\n

In a raid on properties in Auburn, Busby and Eastlakes last week, police allegedly seized almost 14 million illicit cigarettes, along with 29kg of loose-leaf tobacco, three gel blaster rifles and $343,000 in cash.<\/p>\n

Previous seizures allegedly linked to the syndicate include:<\/p>\n

A car on September 3, where police allegedly found $160,000 in cash and 1260 illicit cigarettes<\/p>\n

A car in January, where police allegedly seized a small amount of illicit tobacco and $23,000 cash.<\/p>\n

A home in Burwood in January, where police allegedly seized 5,500 illegal cigarettes, $1.25m in cash, two money counters, luxury watches, and electronic devices<\/p>\n

In December, six homes in Wentworthville, Auburn and Burwood were searched, and police allegedly found 2.1 million illicit cigarettes and $108,000 in cash.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

More than 16 million illegal cigarettes were confiscated by police.<\/p>\n

(NSW Police)<\/p>\n

Images show piles of cash tied in bundles, along with stacks of cardboard boxes allegedly containing the illegal products.<\/p>\n

The illegal smokes carry a street value of more than $15 million.<\/p>\n

Five men, aged 21, 26, 26, 32, and 37 have been charged and remain before the courts.<\/p>\n

The rise of illegal cigarettes in Australia<\/p>\n

Illicit cigarettes, usually sourced from China, East Asia or the UAE, have rapidly grown in popularity in Australia, mainly due to high taxes that make legal tobacco increasingly unaffordable<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last week, Aussie smokers were slugged with another tax increase<\/a>, pushing the tax alone for a standard 20-pack of cigarettes to more than $31.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A man was arrested in Auburn by Strike Force Mustang as part of their 10-month long operation.<\/p>\n

(NSW Police)<\/p>\n

It pushes the starting retail price of a pack of cigarettes to about $40, and means smokers are now paying $1.55 in tobacco tax on every cigarette.<\/p>\n

In contrast, an untaxed packet of illegal cigarettes can cost as little as $10.<\/p>\n

Illegal tobacco out of control in Victoria<\/p>\n

In Victoria, new data has revealed that almost every tobacco store across 110 suburbs was found to be selling illicit nicotine products.<\/p>\n

\"Stacks<\/p>\n

Police believe the syndicate laundered around $68 million over a two-year period.<\/p>\n

(NSW Police)<\/p>\n

The research, by the Herald Sun<\/a>, found 84 per cent of tobacconists sold illegal products, compared to 53 per cent in NSW and just 29 per cent in Queensland.<\/p>\n

Former Australian Federal Police detective sergeant Rohan Pike told 3AW Breakfast<\/a> not enough is being done to counter the problem.<\/p>\n

“We haven’t tried terribly hard, particularly in this state, to shut these things down,” he said, adding it is “very, very hard” to stop people from buying cheaper cigarettes in today’s economy.<\/p>\n

Pike said other states are sending more resources to tackle the illicit market, with buyers in some areas now leaning back towards legal products.<\/p>\n

You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n