South Australia Police have made several significant seizures that have severely disrupted illicit tobacco networks infiltrating the state.
The seizures have been made by police across the state who are on the lookout for vehicles being used to ship illicit tobacco using major transport routes from interstate and between warehouses and shops within SA.
In each of the three seizures light trucks have been used by the syndicates.
The most recent seizure was made on Thursday 31 October when a truck was stopped on the Princess Highway at Tailem Bend and found to contain 486 kilograms of loose tobacco and 472,800 cigarettes. The value of the products is estimated to be more than $600,000.
The truck, which was pulled over by a Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Section patrol just after 8.30am, was seized and the driver, a 34-year-old man from Victoria, was arrested and charged with money laundering and unlawful possession.
He was refused police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday 1 November. (CO2400044022).
On Wednesday October 23, a Murray Bridge patrol stopped a rental truck travelling on the Princes Highway at Monteith. The truck was being driven by a 37-year-old man from Victoria and a 34-year-old-man from NSW was a passenger.
Officers located a significant quantity of illicit tobacco products worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the truck. The truck has been seized for further examination and Investigations are continuing.
On Wednesday October 9, Port Augusta patrols responding to a collision on Commercial Road, Port Augusta located a truck that had left the scene parked in an alley off Mackay Street.
A search of the truck uncovered a large quantity of tobacco products, vapes and loose tobacco, with a total estimated value of $150,000.
The truck also contained tobacconist signage, shop fittings, price lists for displays. Operation Eclipse detectives believe the contents were to establish a “pop-up’’ shop.
The driver, a 44-year-old man, and his passenger, a 32-year-old man, both from Queensland, were arrested and charged with money laundering.
They were both refused police bail and appeared in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on 10 October (CO2400040835). They will next appear in court on November 6.
Operation Eclipse tactical commander Detective Chief Inspector Brett Featherby said the three seizures would impact the operations of the illicit tobacco trade in SA.
“These seizures should serve as a warning to the syndicates that we will take every opportunity to disrupt their activities, we will take every opportunity to lawfully stop and search vehicles we believe are transporting illicit tobacco in South Australia,’’ he said.
“The key transit routes into South Australia are a key focus of regional police patrols who are working closely with Operation Eclipse detectives.’’
Anyone with any information on either the transportation or sale of illicit tobacco in South Australia is urged to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
