Greater than $31 million price of illicit tobacco has been seized from two properties in northern Victoria.
Key factors:
- The ATO and Victoria Police have seized and destroyed round 16.5 hectares of illicit tobacco from two properties in rural Victoria
- The tobacco crops have an estimated worth of greater than $31 million
- The raids have been performed at properties in Nathalia and Katunga following a tip-off from a group member
The Australian Taxation Workplace (ATO), with assist from Victoria Police, performed raids on properties in Nathalia on Tuesday and Katunga on Wednesday following a tip-off from a involved group member.
Throughout the search of the Nathalia property, officers discovered greater than 14 hectares of illicit tobacco crops with an estimated worth of greater than $25 million.
A property in Katunga was additionally raided and a couple of.5 hectares of tobacco crops, which have been estimated to be price greater than $6 million, have been uncovered by officers.
ATO assistant commissioner Jade Hawkins stated the raids had efficiently disrupted the operations of organised criminals.
“Organised criminals utilise small producers and farmers to develop Illicit tobacco to learn their community,” Ms Hawkins stated.
Since January final yr, practically 50 hectares of unlawful tobacco crops have been seized and destroyed in rural Victoria.
Ms Hawkins stated individuals in the neighborhood have been the most effective sources of intelligence they’d for serving to to close down legal actions.
“Members of the group who discover uncommon farm works, earthworks alongside creeks or riverbeds, and enormous, leafy plant crops that resemble kale, cabbage, or corn can report it anonymously to the ATO,” she stated.
These convicted of rising, promoting, or possessing illicit tobacco can resist 10 years’ imprisonment and will be fined not less than $412,500.
