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WA vision can be downloaded here and images downloaded here ?
NT vision can be downloaded here and images downloaded here
Interview with Assistant Commissioner Tony Smith can be downloaded here?
The Australian Border Force's (ABF) National Disruption Group (NDG) has coordinated targeted action across Western Australia and the Northern Territory, pursuing suspected illicit tobacco and vape distribution channels across diverse business fronts, resulting in the:
- Seizure of more than 1.77 million illicit cigarettes, 504 kgs of loose-leaf tobacco, more than 9,500 vaping devices and accessories and 6,310 nicotine pouches.
- Illicit substances with a street value of over AUD $814,000 was seized including 4kg of MDMA
- Identification of 66 persons of interest
- The application for 15 temporary shop closures
- Estimated duty evaded of approximately AUD $3.94 million.
Operation TEMPEST, led by the NDG, is a multi-phased joint agency operation using shared information and intelligence to detect, deter and disrupt illicit tobacco networks that threaten Australia's border and the community.
Partners in the NDG work collaboratively across Commonwealth, state and territory agencies to ensure that jurisdictional activities inform national efforts. This coordinated approach maximises disruption to illicit tobacco and vaping supply chains including import, storage, distribution and retail by mid-level criminals and enablers.
Intelligence from multiple partner agencies informed the coordinated high visibility week of action, which took place between Monday 24 and Saturday 29 August. Overall, 66 locations were targeted including several postal depots, storage sheds, residential properties and several retailers including tobacconists, barbers, clothing stores, restaurants and motor dealerships all suspected of selling or storing illicit tobacco products. 22 international flights into Perth were also screened for travellers attempting to smuggle illicit tobacco into the country.
Agencies involved included the ABF, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Taxation Office (ATO), WA Health, WA Police Force (WAPF), NT Health, NT Police, Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations (DTBAR).
WA week of action results
Inspectors from WA Health supported by the ABF, TGA and WAPF conducted inspections at 45 retail outlets, including tobacconists, convenience grocers, gift stores and barbers located across Perth and the Margaret River.
Concurrently, officers from ABF executed search warrants at 4 storage locations, 2 postal depots, 1 residential property and screened passengers from 22 international flights.
Combined results from these locations include:
- Seizure of more than 1.46 million illicit cigarettes, 197 kgs loose-leaf tobacco, more than 7,900 vaping devices and accessories, 990 cigars and 3,360 nicotine pouches
- Illicit substances with a street value of over AUD $814,000 was seized including 4kg of MDMA
- 59 persons of interest located with known links to the illicit tobacco trade.
- Inspectors from WA Health applied for 15 temporary shop closures
Included in the above locations, ABF officers found illicit tobacco within a sea cargo container which was situated in a rural property in Mariginiup, WA
NT week of action results
Inspectors from NT Health and the ATO supported by the ABF, TGA, AFP, DTBAR and NTPOL conducted inspections at 2 car yards, 1 petrol station, 1 residential property and 8 retail outlets, including tobacconists, convenience and gift stores, clothing stores, grocers and motor dealerships located across Darwin and Katherine.
Concurrently, officers from ABF executed search warrants at 1 post depot and a residential property in Stuart Park.
Combined results from these locations include:
- Seizure of more than 300,000 illicit cigarettes, 306 kgs loose-leaf tobacco, more than 1,560 vaping devices and accessories and 2,950 nicotine pouches.
- Electronic devices, NSW number plates and other drug paraphernalia were also seized.
- 9 persons of interest were located with known links to the illicit tobacco trade.
Outcomes from Operation TEMPEST extends well beyond illicit tobacco products seized. The NDG will now assess information and intelligence gathered during the week of action to identify future disruption opportunities with partner agencies to further break the business model of illicit tobacco in Australia, and create an increasingly hostile environment for criminal networks and enablers. Examples of activities that may be considered include:
- Exploring revocation of transport and professional licenses
- Financial and benefits assessments by Federal, Territory and State Authorities
- Visa reviews by the Department of Home Affairs
- Immediate information sharing with law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
The NDG currently has 29 external partnerships across Federal, State and Territory agencies, and industry sectors committed to supporting coordinated action led by the NDG.
Quotes
Australian Border Force – Greg Dowse, Commander Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement
"Criminals and enablers diversify their activities across a wide range of private and business premises in an attempt to conceal their operations and maximise profits. Operation TEMPEST continues to demonstrate that the ABF working with law enforcement, intelligence and regulatory agencies are responding to this quickly, identifying these interconnected networks and systematically dismantling the infrastructure that supports them."
"No single agency can address illicit tobacco networks alone. Success comes from coordinated action where intelligence, analytical capabilities, regulatory powers and enforcement actions are brought together to target the full criminal ecosystem, not just individual detections or actors."
"The value of NDG partnerships and this operation extends beyond the week of action. Information collected will support ongoing enforcement, regulatory and financial disruption activities against those involved in the illicit tobacco trade."
ATO acting Deputy Commissioner Pennie Snowden
"Results like these demonstrate the value of agencies working together to identify, disrupt and dismantle illicit tobacco operations. The ATO will continue to use its powers, intelligence capabilities and partnerships to protect the integrity of the system."
Professor Anthony Lawler, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and Head of the TGA
"Working alongside our enforcement partners in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the TGA is continuing to identify, target and disrupt illicit vape supply chains. Those seeking to profit from the unlawful vape market should expect ongoing compliance and enforcement action."
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Pixie Fuhrmeister
"The AFP and its law enforcement partners will continue to proactively target and disrupt those involved in the illicit tobacco trade to prevent harm to innocent Australians and legitimate business owners.
"The illicit tobacco trade is directly linked to acts of violence in our community, and these crimes are executed by organised crime groups in their pursuit of power and profit.
"Anyone who becomes involved in the illicit activity should be warned the AFP and its partners are committed to ongoing action to stop criminal enterprises profiting from everyday Australians."
ACIC Acting Executive Director Mission Coordination and Analysis, Wendy Darling
"The fight against the illicit tobacco and vape trade remains a key priority, with outcomes driven by strong collaboration within the Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group.
The ACIC continues to provide unique, actionable and insightful intelligence to inform our partners, disrupt organised crime and ensure ongoing community safety."
Shane Giblett, Director, Tobacco and Vape Regulation, WA Department of Health
"The illicit tobacco trade undermines public health efforts by making dangerous tobacco products more accessible particularly for young people.
"Strong enforcement is an important part of protecting public health and we will use every enforcement tool available to us to target businesses seeking to cause harm from illicit tobacco and vaping products.
"This includes continuing to work closely with our partner agencies to disrupt and dismantle the supply chains behind this illegal trade."
Detective Inspector Anna Shaw, WA Police Serious and Organised Crime Division
"This week of action is another reminder to the community that law enforcement agencies across the country continue to work together and remain committed to disrupting organised criminal activity, including the unlawful distribution of illicit tobacco and vape products.
"WA Police maintain a zero-tolerance approach to serious offences that fuel organised criminal networks. While the Department of Health regulates illicit tobacco in Western Australia, WA Police will act when the trade places community safety at risk."
Northern Territory Health Chief Pharmacist, Samuel Keitaanpaa
"NT Health values the strong collaboration between health, law enforcement and regulatory agencies to reduce the availability and harms associated with illicit tobacco across the Northern Territory.
Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations Director of Tobacco Control, Amanda Nobbs-Carcuro.
"The Northern Territory Government takes the issue of illicit tobacco seriously and recognises the significant health, safety and economic risks it poses to the community. It undermines legitimate businesses.
"This joint operation demonstrates firm action taken against non-complaint retailers and highlights ongoing collaboration to disrupt and dismantle the illicit tobacco trade.
"We will continue to work with Territory, State and Commonwealth partners to identify illicit tobacco supply chains and take action with respect to identified breaches."