Padstow: Police bust alleged illicit tobacco syndicate, man charged
Police have busted an alleged illicit tobacco syndicate following raids across Sydney’s southwest, with officers seizing cash, 60kg of loose tobacco and more than 16,000 packets of cigarettes.
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Police have busted an alleged illicit tobacco syndicate after raiding a home and storage units across southwest Sydney, seizing cash, 60kg of loose tobacco and more than 300,000 cigarettes.
Strike Force Polar investigators today executed nine search warrants in Padstow, Revesby, Bexley, Kingsgrove, Canterbury and Annandale following investigations into mid-level crime and drug supply activity in Bankstown.
A 40-year-old man was arrested at a house on Cory Ave, Padstow, this morning, where police allegedly found almost $5000 in cash, 10kg of loose tobacco and ATM deposit receipts totalling close to $280,000 in funds deposited in the last seven days.
Raids of self-storage units also allegedly uncovered 50kg of loose tobacco and 16,230 packets of cigarettes, totalling 324,600 cigarettes.
The man was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with two counts of import tobacco products with intent to defraud revenue, two counts of convey etc tobacco products know of intent defraud revenue, three counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, two counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle), knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
Police will allege in court the man was involved in the importation and distribution of illegal tobacco products across metropolitan Sydney and the receipts were from the sale of illicit tobacco products.
He was refused bail and is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court tomorrow.
Investigations continue.