Indian national charged after $31m tobacco bust at NSW border

A Sydney-based Indian national accused of masterminding a tobacco and drug-smuggling network has been charged after police seized $31m of product at the border.

More than 46 million illicit cigarettes have been seized at the Australian border as police crack down on an Indian crime syndicate allegedly exploiting insider access to bypass border controls. Picture: AFP

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About 45 million illicit cigarettes have been seized at the Australian border as police crack down on an Indian national allegedly exploiting insider access to bypass border controls.

The Australian Border Force on Tuesday announced the massive seizure of four containers packed with illicit tobacco valued at $31m at the border in NSW between June 24 and July 15.

The discovery was made by the Multi-Agency Strike Team (MAST) — a taskforce of 41 officers from state and federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies — who uncovered the illicit consignment during the months-long probe under Strike Force Aulic.

Detectives issued Gurvinder Singh, 42, with a court attendance notice for two counts of importing tobacco products with intent to defraud revenue, relating to about 25 million illicit cigarettes found in two containers.

About 46 million illicit cigarettes have been seized at the Australian border as police crack down on an Indian crime syndicate allegedly exploiting insider access to bypass border controls. Picture: AFP

Earlier this year, police alleged they had traced back 50 kilograms of cocaine from Panama, about 20 million cigarettes from the Middle East and 280kg of liquid meth from Canada to Mr Singh.

At the time, Mr Singh was charged with five counts of importing a commercial quantity of drugs and border-controlled tobacco, two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime and two relating to his role in leading a criminal group.

The Sydney-based Indian national, who has no previous criminal records or prior underworld connections, faces a maximum penalty of life in jail if convicted.

He did not enter any pleas for the offences.

Police will allege Mr Singh netted $443,000 in proceeds of crime after selling some of the illegal cigarettes on the lucrative Sydney black market.

An intercept captured Mr Singh saying “it’s fake” when he realised police had swapped the 50kg of cocaine for an inert substance, police allege.

The tobacco had allegedly been illegally imported from the United Arab Emirates in January.

Gurvinder Singh, 42, arrested in June. Picture: supplied

Police will also allege that Mr Singh told others of his abilities to circumvent border controls and had been using a freight company in Punchbowl to facilitate the imports.

Strike Force Aulic was established in September 2023 to investigate the alleged importation and supply of large quantities of illegal drugs and illicit tobacco by Mr Singh and his associates. Police allege Mr Singh and his network claimed to have the ability to circumvent Australian border controls.

Mr Singh is scheduled to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday week, July 31.

Seven other men connected to the case have already been charged and are currently before the courts.

The taskforce has officers from the NSW Police Force, AFP, ABF, NSW Crime Commission, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC and the ATO. It was designed to disrupt organised criminal networks by leveraging combined powers, intelligence and investigative tools across jurisdictions.