Mostafa Jamal Al-Deleymi sentenced for illegal tobacco bust on Bruce Highway in Ingham

A young driver was caught with more than $513k worth of tobacco concealed in various ways in the back of a van driving along the Bruce Highway.

Mostafa Jamal Al-Deleymi was sentenced in Townsville District Court March 11, 2025 after being caught with 340kg of illicit tobacco.

A driver who was stopped in a traffic intercept by police with 340kg of illegal tobacco in boxes in the back of the van has been sentenced.

Mostafa Jamal Al-Deleymi appeared in Townsville District Court on Tuesday morning for his role in transferring a significant amount of illegal tobacco between towns.

Commonwealth prosecutor Dane Marley said the young man who was 18 at the time was intercepted on February 8 in 2023 on the Bruce Highway driving through Ingham.

The court was told the total value of the tobacco came to more than $513,000 of avoided duty – it was concealed in 56 cryovac bags in 28 boxes as well as rolled into 176,400 individual cigarettes and hidden in cat food packages.

“His role was that of a courier,” Mr Marley said.

“It was packaged in cardboard boxes in the van which shows the extent to which its sophisticated. It was transporting the drugs in a commercial vehicle between two cities.”

Judge William Everson pointed out, the now 20-year-old man was not proved to play any further role in the crime or to be involved in any type of syndicate.

Al-Deleymi’s defence barrister instructed by Indigo Law said his client had been on bail for almost two years and hadn’t committed any more offences, instead starting his own business.

Judge Everson queried the lawyer.

“It’s not a business that sells tobacco products is it?”

To which the man’s lawyer said no and explained it was providing money for automatic teller machines.

In sentencing the man, His Honour acknowledged he was “merely the driver transporting tobacco”.

“I regard you as a man with excellent prospects of rehabilitation,” the judge said.

Al-Deleymi pleaded guilty to being in possession of illegal tobacco in excess of 100kg.

He was sentenced to nine months’ jail, immediately released on a recognisance order of $100 for nine months.

Originally published as Mostafa Jamal Al-Deleymi sentenced for illegal tobacco bust on Bruce Highway in Ingham