Alleged tobacco smugglers John Aran, Mohammed Aloachey and Hussein Allaw face court after police sting

Three men charged after a police sting turned up a total of 336kg of illicit tobacco and 111,000 illegal cigarettes have faced court for the first time.

Mohammed Aloachey outside the Darwin Local Court where he stands charged with possessing or conveying tobacco products with intent to defraud the Commonwealth.

Three men arrested after police seized more than 300kg of illicit tobacco and more than 110,000 illegal cigarettes in Berrimah last month have faced court for the first time.

John Aran, Mohammed Aloachey and Hussein Allaw faced the Darwin Local Court on Thursday charged with possessing or conveying tobacco products with intent to defraud the Commonwealth.

In a statement released at the time of the trio’s arrest, NT Police detective Superintendent John Ginnane said the Drug and Organised Crime Division had raided a property in the Northcrest estate on July 22.

Mr Ginnane said officers had targeted the address as part of Operation Hook which was “established to disrupt the sale and supply of illicit tobacco and vapes in the NT by interstate organised crime entities”.

Hussein Allaw and John Aran outside court on Thursday.

He said police had received intelligence of a large pallet of freight being delivered to a “a person of interest allegedly involved in an organised crime syndicate” at a business in Yarrawonga.

The investigation led them to the Berrimah property where Mr Aran, Mr Aloachey and Mr Allaw were allegedly “observed loading freight from a rental van into a white Audi”.

Mr Ginnane said the trio had attempted to leave in the Audi but were intercepted by officers, with a search of the premises and two vehicles allegedly turning up 21 boxes of loose leaf tobacco hidden in bags labelled “Chinese Tea” and 11 boxes of cigarettes.

He said a total of 336kg of illicit tobacco and 111,000 illegal cigarettes were seized along with the two vehicles and the three men were arrested and bailed to face court on Thursday.

Hussein Allaw and John Aran were arrested in July.

“Purchasing illegal tobacco directly funds organised crime groups locally, interstate and overseas,” he said.

“NT Police are aware of ongoing conflicts between large crime gangs interstate and we will stop at nothing to prevent these occurring in the Territory.”

Mr Ginnane said “cutting the beast off at the knees” would “continue to prevent that”.

“It is understandable that people who smoke want to buy a cheaper product,” he said.

“However, they need to realise that every illicit cigarette pack they buy directly funds organised crime, arson, kidnapping, financing the trafficking of dangerous drugs and in some cases murder.

“That is not acceptable to the NT Police and we will continue to disrupt and deter organised crime of this type gaining a toehold in our community.”

Mr Aran, Mr Aloachey and Mr Allaw will return to court for a directions hearing on October 7.

Originally published as Alleged tobacco smugglers John Aran, Mohammed Aloachey and Hussein Allaw face court after police sting