Tourist came here to unload container of illegal cigarettes gets extended stay behind bars

A MALAYSIAN man caught with millions of ‘chop chop’ ciggies at a Dandenong warehouse has been given two years behind bars.

A MALAYSIAN man caught with millions of ‘chop chop’ ciggies at a Dandenong warehouse has been given two years behind bars.

He was caught in a Border Force sting after coming over on a tourist visa.

But instead of enjoying a nice holiday, he helped unload more than two million illegally imported cigarettes.

On May 31 the County Court heard Yunn Chang Fang, now 23, flew into Gold Coast airport on July 21 last year, intending to stay for just five days.

But instead he bought a one-way ticket to Melbourne, and two days later flew into Avalon, to be picked up by a car with NSW plates.

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In early August Fang booked a car and came to stay at a Dandenong motel.

On August 10 he attended a Bryants Rd warehouse where a container was being dropped off, signing for it with an illegible signature.

He took a call from a Campbellfield address which had been monitored by Federal agents as known “to be connected to the illegal importation of cigarettes into Australia”.

Later that day Border Force officers raided the warehouse, finding him unloading the contents of the container.

In it were 2,016,000 cigarettes, which would have evaded Customs of more than $1,244,000 of duty.

Court records show he expected to be paid between $10,000 and $20,000 to unpack the container.

Judge Frances Hogan said “a very considerable amount of money” was being defrauded.

“Although there is no evidence that you played any role in the actual importation, those engaged in illegal importations would not succeed if it were not for people, like yourself, being prepared to make themselves available to receive the goods and unpack them ready for transportation elsewhere,” she said.

Fang was sentenced to two years jail and must serve a minimum of 12 months behind bars.

He has already served 294 days in custody.