David Hurley
May 25, 2016
Herald Sun
A CHINESE man has been caught at Melbourne Airport trying to smuggle almost 50,000 cigarettes into the country.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers selected the 60-year-old man for a baggage search after he arrived on a flight from China on May 22.
During the examination the officers found 49,120 cigarettes, which would have a duty payable of almost $30,000.
Glenn Scutts, the acting ABF Regional Commander for Victoria and Tasmania, said: “Undeclared cigarettes pose a risk given the unknown source of the tobacco and are a clear attempt to defraud Australian taxpayers of legitimate tax revenue.
“The ABF takes very seriously any revenue evading attempt and this seizure should serve as a warning to anyone involved in this type of activity – it is only a matter of time before you will be caught.
“This is a timely reminder to passengers arriving in Australia that we have strict laws which outline the quantity of cigarettes and tobacco which can be imported for personal use.”
The maximum penalty for tobacco smuggling is up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to five times the amount of duty evaded.
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