Police seize tonnes of illegal tobacco after raids in Victoria linked to organised crime gangs
In short:
Police have raided a number of properties in Melbourne's north and Victoria's west, seizing 3.3 tonnes of illegal tobacco.
Police allege the properties are linked to the leader of an organised crime syndicate.
What's next?
Several men face charges related to illegal tobacco and firearms offences.
Authorities in Victoria have seized more than three tonnes of illicit tobacco as part of an operation targeting the illegal cigarette market.
Officers from Victoria Police's Taskforce Lunar raided properties in Melbourne's north-west and in the state's west on Thursday, seizing tobacco, cash and illegal firearms.
Five properties in Sydenham, Delahey and Melton South were raided as part of the joint operation between Victoria Police and the Australian Tax Office.
Police found 600 kilograms of illicit tobacco at a house in Delahey, as well as $90,000 cash and a number of improperly stored firearms.
Another 600kg of tobacco was found at another house in Delahey.
At two properties in Sydenham, police found 1,100kg of illicit tobacco, improperly stored firearms and documents relating to the manufacture of illicit tobacco.
At a property in Melton South, police found 1,000kg of illicit tobacco and 1.5kg of cannabis.
Four men, aged 30, 47, 35 and 39 face charges over the raids in Melbourne.
Five large rural properties were also raided in Landsborough and Barkly in Victoria's west.
Police failed to find any illegal tobacco, but 20,000 illicit cigarettes were found at a property in Barkly.
A 40-year-old man was questioned and released pending further enquiries.
Victoria Police said the total weight of the tobacco seized in the raids was more than 3.3 tonnes and represents about $6 million in lost excise.
Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt from the State Anti-Gangs Division said the properties searched were linked to the leader of an organised crime syndicate.
"We have said previously that Victoria Police is focused on targeting syndicate leaders, directors, facilitators and organisers responsible for this criminal offending," he said.
"That remains a key priority for us, and we are doing absolutely everything we can to target them, to bring this criminality to an end and to make involvement in illicit tobacco as unattractive a proposition as possible for organised crime groups."
Police urged people not to buy illegal tobacco, as the proceeds fund organised crime syndicates.
"That money can be used to commit other crimes, such as an arson attack on a business, or to obtain an illicit firearm for a shooting. It is that simple," Detective Acting Superintendent Hatt said.
"If you are aware of illicit activity linked to a tobacco store, please come forward with that information so police can act."
Anyone with information has been urged to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.