Australian Border Force seize $1b worth of illegal cigarettes in contraband blitz

In the last six months, the Australian Border Force has seized billions of dollars worth of illicit cigarettes and hundreds of tonnes of loose tobacco.

Australian Border Force officers have seized well over a ­billion dollars’ worth of illicit cigarettes, almost 300 tonnes of loose tobacco and thwarted an attempt by a commercial ship to smuggle in 76 tonnes of contraband cigarettes – all in the last six months of 2024.

ABF Commissioner Gavan Reynolds, in his first interview since taking the reins of the agency in November, told The Daily Telegraph the blitz on the contraband was a warning to organised crime gangs – which are responsible for 75 per cent of the trade – that they were clearly in his sights.

Mr Reynolds also revealed the ABF was working closely with international counterparts, including in China, to identify illegal tobacco products well before they get close to Australia’s borders.

“We’ve got a really good collaboration at the point of departure,” the ABF boss said.

“As the Prime Minister says, we co-operate with China where we can, we disagree where we must … this is actually an area we’ve been able to co-operate with China, particularly when it comes to illicit tobacco.

Customs officers in Noumea made an exceptional seizure of nearly 76 tonnes of contraband cigarettes, concealed in several containers that were on board a commercial ship. Picture: Australian Border Force

Officers of the Noumea Customs Brigade searched a Tanzanian-flagged merchant ship, coming from Taiwan which was calling at Noumea after a long journey along the Australian coast. Picture: Australian Border Force

Mr Reynolds said a recent “wonderful example” of the value of the ABF’s close working relationship with international partners came just weeks ago when a tip-off from Australia led French customs officers in Noumea, New Caledonia, to a seizure of nearly 76 tonnes of contraband cigarettes, concealed in several containers on board a commercial ship.

The ABF had watched the ship circle for days off Australia before heading for the overseas French territory.

Nearly 76 tonnes of contraband cigarettes, concealed in several containers that were on board a commercial ship. Picture: Australian Border Force

“(The ship) was flagged Tanzanian and it picked up a load of what we thought was illicit tobacco out of Taiwan, but we were on to it,” Mr Reynolds said. “We watched it leave Taiwan and come down to Australia from the beginning of its journey and it was just going around in circles to the northeast of Tasmania.

“So we sent a couple of aircraft across and said ‘hey, what are you doing?’ and they came back with really sketchy answers … They were there for about a month, then when we questioned them they would say they were going to New Zealand, then to Melbourne or Tasmania.

“Then they scooted off and were heading towards New Caledonia.”

Two speedboats were also discovered on the ship. Picture: Australian Border Force

Officials there searched the ship and found the illegal cigarette haul concealed in five containers on the hold of the ship, which is normally dedicated to bulk transport.

Authorities also discovered two speedboats and a tank of 10,000 litres of fuel intended to supply these boats.

“This is a really great example of the good relationship we have with our customs counterparts and is a warning to anyone trying to breach our borders that we are watching,” the commissioner said. “We would have had 13,000 detections over the last six months of 2024. That’s like $1.2bn worth of illicit cigarettes, it’s 270 tonnes of loose tobacco.

“Every single day I read the reports in the morning and I just read the number of protections that we have made.

“We know the threats will keep trying and we will keep getting ahead of that threat.”

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