Australia is seeing a massive increase in illicit tobacco and shootings and firebombs believed to be related to the tobacco black market. Photo credit: ABF
Data from the Australian Border Force’s (ABF) annual report showed Australian police have made some of the largest seizures of illicit tobacco, cigarettes, and vaping products on record this year.
There has been a sharp increase in the number and value of tobacco seizures along with a rise in shootings and fire-bombings that are thought to be connected to Australia's illicit tobacco trade. In 2022-23, ABF seized more than 2,000 tons of tobacco, 1,600 tons more than the previous year. This was the first time for seized tobacco to reach this level and almost eclipsed the total for the three years prior combined.
Recently, Victoria police executed 36 warrants in two days in Melbourne alone as part of an ongoing investigation into crime syndicated linked to illicit tobacco. They seized 53,147 vapes worth over A$1.5 million on the black market; 712,385 cigarettes, and over a ton of loose tobacco.
The illicit tobacco taskforce headed by the ABF also found 168 instances of revenue evasion totaling over A$522 million. Data from the Australian Crime and Intelligence Commission’s (ACIC) annual report showed A$79 million worth of illicit tobacco. According to ACIC's annual report, the value of illicit tobacco seized in 2022–2023 totaled A$79 million, the largest amount since records started in 2017–2018.