Croydon: Bo Liu caught with large illegally imported cigarette stash

A man’s drag of a day became far worse when he was caught with a massive 100kg stash of illegally imported cigarettes hidden in his Mini Cooper. Here’s the latest from court.

Liu was sentenced for possessing 100kg of tobacco.

A man’s drag of a day became far worse when he was caught with a massive stash of illegally imported cigarettes hidden in his Mini Cooper, following a police search on unrelated matters.

Bo Liu faced Burwood Local Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to possessing 100kg of tobacco.

Court documents state police arrived at the 31-year-old’s Croydon home on January 5 last year to investigate unrelated driving matters.

Liu outside Burwood Court House.

Police found Liu standing outside his property and he was charged with two counts of negligent driving and one count of driving while suspended. These charges have since been dismissed.

Liu told police his Mini Cooper had been stolen however put back in his garage. He allowed officers to search his car leading to the discovery of the cigarettes stored in boxes.

Lui had a Mandarin interpreter at court. Picture: NewsLocal / Savannah Pocock

Police arrested Lui but released him shortly after due to his co-operation when offenders seized the cigarettes.

Police prosecutor Daniel Symington requested a conviction for Lui, given the quantity of the cigarettes.

A Mandarin interpreter represented Lui and said he has made mistakes and took full responsibility.

Magistrate Jennifer Price said there was a need for the court to deter this type of offending and consider the effect on the community.

“This type of offending can feed the black market,” she said.

Ms Price said Lui had higher level offences of a different nature on his criminal record, but conceded he had co-operated with police and there are reasonable prospects of rehabilitation.

Lui was convicted and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order.

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