Police seized 700 kilograms of illicit tobacco at a Beveridge property last night, as part of Taskforce Lunar ongoing investigation into organised crime syndicates linked to illicit tobacco.
The raid at MacGregor Road Beveridge follows police executing 36 search warrants on Wednesday and yesterday – 34 at retail outlets, including one at Mernda, and two at residential properties across Melbourne.
During the searches, investigators uncovered intelligence that suggested a property at Beveridge may be a storage facility for illicit tobacco.
A warrant was executed at the address, where police located more than 700 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco.
Across the two-day operation, police seized:
• 53,147 e cigarettes, with a street value of more than $1.5 million;
• 712,385 cigarettes with duty excise evaded totalling more than $884,000;
• Over one tonne of loose-leaf tobacco, with duty excise evaded of more than $1.7 million;
• two kilograms of cannabis;
• More than $26,000 in cash;
• A small quantity of cocaine;
• Two expandable batons and;
• Industrial tobacco manufacturing equipment.
Six people were arrested, with a 40-year-old Northcote man charged and bailed in relation to drug offences.
The other five people were released pending further enquiries.
The warrants executed targeted retail outlets believed to be involved in the sale of illicit tobacco in Victoria.
Members of the taskforce were joined at the warrants by police from the VIPER Taskforce, Crime Command and North West Metro Region, along with representatives from Australian Border Force, Australian Tax Office, Australian Federal Police, Therapeutic Goods Administration, and Sherriff’s Office.
Investigators appeal to anyone, especially store owners and staff, who has information to come forward to police.
People can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.