NSW Police destroy 16 tonnes of illegal tobacco after Murga raid

Police have destroyed about 16 tonnes of illegal tobacco after one of the biggest crops on record was discovered.

New South Wales Police have destroyed about 16 tonnes of tobacco after an illegal plantation worth more than $28 million in the states central west was raided.

Officers from NSW Police and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) raided a property in Murga, 55km east of Parkes in central New South Wales, on April 5.

The joint investigation into the large-scale illicit plantation discovered one of the biggest crop busts in NSW history.

Police have raided an illegal tobacco plantation in the central west of New South Wales. Picture: NSW Police.

Police attended the property in Murga and located, seized and destroyed approximately 16 tonnes of illicit tobacco. Picture: NSW Police.

Officers located, seized and destroyed the crop despite no arrests being made.

Investigations are ongoing.

The illicit tobacco had an estimated street value of $28 million. Picture: NSW Police.

Detectives from the Operation Phobetor investigated for months the illicit tobacco crop. Picture: NSW Police.

ATO assistant commissioner Justin Clarke said the operations were run by “criminals living and operating in local communities”.

“Criminals who deal in illicit tobacco pose a serious threat to the Australian community … they use their profits to fund their lifestyles and engage in criminal behaviour well beyond the sale of illicit tobacco,” Mr Clarke said.

“Evading excise duty on tobacco costs the community millions of dollars that could be spent on essential community services.”

Growing illegal tobacco carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment if a person is found guilty.

Originally published as NSW Police destroy 16 tonnes of illegal tobacco after Murga raid