Along with record seizures, the ABF's ability to leverage a full end-to-end compliance model has targeted every stage of the criminal supply chain, offshore, at the border and domestically - making it progressively difficult for organised crime to conduct their business.
Pre-border (offshore)
The ABF's exceptional pre-border results demonstrate the critical role international partnerships, intelligence sharing and targeted disruption play in preventing illicit tobacco from entering the Australian community.
Between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, ABF officers stationed offshore:
- Received over 1,640 referrals from international partner agencies relating to illicit tobacco and vapes - representing a 209 per cent increase compared to the previous financial year.
- Information from these referrals was used at the border to prevent over 514.9 million illicit cigarettes, 11.9 tonnes of loose-leaf tobacco and 3.1 million vapes from entering the Australian community.
At the Australian border
Between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026 at the Australian border, the ABF seized:
- Over 2.2 billion cigarette sticks
- Over 586.7 tonnes of loose-leaf tobacco
- In total, more than 2,259.4 tonnes of illicit tobacco (loose leaf and cigarette sticks)
- Over 13.2 million illicit vaping products – representing a 112 per cent increase on vape seizures compared to the previous financial year.
These illicit tobacco products represent estimated tobacco duty evasion in excess of $4.7 billion (excl. GST).
Post-border (domestic operations)
The ABF continues to coordinate government enforcement efforts by leading dedicated cross-agency illicit tobacco and vaping bodies, including the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce and the Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group.
Between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, as part of domestic operations, the ABF has seized:
- Over 109.4 million cigarette sticks, representing a 496 per cent increase compared to the previous financial year.
- Over 32.1 tonnes of loose tobacco, representing a 232 per cent increase compared to the previous financial year
- Seized in total, more than 114.2 tonnes of illicit tobacco (loose leaf and cigarette sticks), representing a 232 per cent increase compared to the previous financial year
These illicit tobacco products represent estimated tobacco duty evasion in excess of $236.6 million (excl. GST)
Across the full border continuum last financial year, the ABF has seized in total, over 2,300 tonnes of illicit tobacco - which weighs the equivalent of around 170 double-decker buses.
ABF Commander Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement Greg Dowse said these numbers demonstrate the effectiveness of ABF enforcement, but seizure figures tell only part of the story.
"Our aim is to measure success by the level of disruption we cause to organised crime groups and by reducing their ability to operate profitably," Commander Dowse said
"Over the last financial year, offshore and domestic disruption have emerged as key areas of success. We are removing significant volumes of illicit tobacco from the community, and not just at the border.
"These results show the value of strong international and whole-of-government cooperation, and the importance of longstanding partnerships with law enforcement agencies in Australia and overseas.
"A 496 per cent increase in cigarette stick seizures and a 232 per cent increase in overall illicit tobacco seizures compared to the previous financial year reflects an unprecedented level of domestic disruption being delivered against criminal supply chains and shows the impact of ABF-led enforcement action is when applied across the full border continuum.
"The intelligence picture shows ongoing enforcement pressure is producing measurable effects. We are seeing organised crime groups modify their smuggling methods in response, while rising illicit tobacco prices indicate reduced supply and increasing pressure across the illegal market.
"This is a key indicator that our coordinated multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional disruption efforts are taking hold," Commander Dowse said.