Dawn raids at four Melbourne addresses in multimillion-dollar tobacco bust

A tobacco smuggling syndicate with links to outlaw motorcycle gangs has been busted with raids conducted at four Melbourne homes.

A tobacco smuggling syndicate with links to outlaw motorcycle gangs has been busted in a major intelligence operation.

Almost $2.5 million worth of illicit tobacco was seized in a series of raids by state and federal police across Melbourne on Wednesday.

Dawn raids were conducted at four homes in Brunswick East, Fawkner and Wollert and at three businesses in Campbellfield.

Police seized $195,000 cash, $2,455,635 in illicit tobacco (carton cigarettes), over 500kg of illicit loose-leaf tobacco worth $126,500 and 224 boxes of molasses tobacco worth $20,000.

Four men were charged including a 79-year-old Wollert man was charged with the Commonwealth offences of seven counts of dealing with money to become an instrument of crime; eight counts of possessing tobacco products, knowing it was imported with the intention to defraud the revenue and three counts of aiding and abetting in the possession of tobacco products, knowing it was imported with the intention to defraud the revenue.

A 56-year-old Brunswick East man was charged with the Commonwealth offences of three counts of aiding and abetting in the possession of tobacco products, knowing it was imported with the intention to defraud the revenue.

A 25-year-old Fawkner man was charged with the Commonwealth offences of nine counts of possessing tobacco products, knowing it was imported with the intention to defraud the revenue and six counts of dealing with money to become an instrument of crime.

A 57-year-old Fawkner man was charged with the Commonwealth offences of five counts of possessing tobacco products, knowing it was imported with the intention to defraud the revenue and five counts of dealing with money to become an instrument of crime.

They were bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 17.

The Herald Sun understands El Sayed Omara was arrested in the swoop.

He is allegedly a major Middle Eastern Organised Crime figure and the biggest illicit tobacco dealer in the country.

It’s also understood he used a food business as a front.

The investigation, led by the Trident Taskforce, began in 2018 after authorities were alerted to individuals allegedly importing and distributing contraband into Australia.

Police allege the group has links to organised crime gangs and bikie gangs.

The investigation resulted in the seizure of $3,410,120.00 in cash derived from the sale of illicit tobacco products.

Thomas Hester, Acting Executive Director of Intelligence Operations at the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), said serious and organised crime groups are more attracted than ever before to Australia’s illicit tobacco market.

Australian Border Force (ABF) Commander James Watson said these syndicates control the nation’s illicit tobacco trade and Wednesday’s charges will serve as a significant blow to operations in Victoria.

“Organised crime syndicates view illicit tobacco as low-risk and high-reward but today’s charges send the message to those criminals involved in the trade that law enforcement will catch up with them,” he said.

“The ABF will continue to disrupt and dismantle the organised crime syndicates behind the illicit tobacco market.”

Victoria Police Acting Commander Peter Brigham said law enforcement agencies will continue to work together to “identify, disrupt and prosecute those responsible for causing harm in the community”.