12k illegal cigarettes: Horsham tobacco shop busted in VIPER Taskforce raid
Police from the VIPER Taskforce have arrested a woman and seized illegal e-cigarettes, tobacco and cash from a Horsham tobacco shop.
Victoria
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A country tobacco shop suspected of being linked to the Haddara crime family has been busted for the third time.
Police from the VIPER Taskforce charged a woman and seized illicit tobacco and cash after carrying out a warrant on a store in Firebrace St, Horsham.
They say 12,000 cigarettes, 2.5kg of loose tobacco, 135 e-cigarettes and $10,000 in cash was confiscated.
A 23-year-old woman from Stawell who was working behind the counter was arrested at the scene
She has been charged with a range of counts related to tobacco and vape sales and a proceeds of crime offence.
The woman will face Horsham Magistrates’ Court on March 17.
“Police will allege that the store is connected to an organised crime syndicate involved in the sale of illicit tobacco,” a Victoria Police statement.
The same shop was raided by VIPER and Horsham detectives in August last year when 42,000 cigarettes, 1kg of loose-leaf tobacco and 300 vapes and cash were uncovered.
A 35-year-old Black Ridge man was charged over that operation.
Detective Insp. Craig Darlow of VIPER said tobacco crime syndicates survived through recruiting people to break the law, including by staffing the shops which sell their product.
“I’d like to remind people again that when they walk into these stores and buy products, they are also putting money directly into the hands of criminals who then use it to fund serious and violent offending,” Insp. Darlow said.
Originally published as 12k illegal cigarettes: Horsham tobacco shop busted in VIPER Taskforce raid
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