????Australian Border Force (ABF) has uncovered the widespread use of counterfeit permits to bring vehicles into Australia, identifying hundreds of suspicious imports and issuing more than $74,000 in fines.
The investigation also triggered a wider audit of one importer, uncovering $757,000 in unpaid GST and Luxury Car Tax, which has since been recovered.
Operation VESTIBULE was launched after ABF analysts, supported by interagency intelligence from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, uncovered over 900 vehicle import entries that could not be matched to a legitimate Vehicle Import Approval.
ABF investigators found some importers were supplying counterfeit approvals to customs brokers rather than waiting for legitimate permits. There is no evidence to suggest the customs brokers knew the documents were fraudulent.
The vehicles included both commercial and private imports and arrived predominantly through ports in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
ABF Inspector Amy Sharpe said the operation should serve as a warning to anyone tempted to cut corners when importing a vehicle.
"If you are bringing in a vehicle into Australia, make sure you have the right approval before it is shipped," Inspector Sharpe said.
"Our import requirements help ensure vehicles entering Australia meet important safety and environmental standards.
"Submitting false documentation can result in a vehicle being stopped at the border and significant penalties for those involved.
"This operation highlights the ongoing work of ABF officers to detect non-compliance and protect the integrity of Australia's border controls."
Under Australian law, road vehicles generally require approval before they can be imported into the country. Vehicle Import Approvals are administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts through its online ROVER system.
The department works closely with the ABF, sharing information to support the detection and prevention of vehicles coming into Australia without the necessary approvals.
Importers should obtain the required approval before shipping a vehicle to Australia. Vehicles arriving without the required approval will not be released from customs control and importers can face significant storage costs while the matter is resolved.
Information about importing vehicles, approval pathways and how to apply is available through the department's vehicle import website and ROVER.