Illegal cigarettes worth $16 million have been found.
An organised crime syndicate that imported and distributed illicit tobacco in Sydney has been smashed following the discovery of 1.87 million cigarettes and 12 tonnes of loose leaf tobacco worth nearly $16 million. The haul, discovered on February 3 in a container from China labelled as carrying “beverages and toilet paper” led to multiple warrants being executed in the city’s west and two men being charged, the Australian Border Force says. Two men, aged 46 and 49, have been charged, with the maximum penalty for tobacco smuggling 10 years in jail and/or a fine of up to five times the amount of duty evaded.
Lear More

Gov’t team seizes P11M smuggled cigarettes in Zamboanga City.
A joint team led by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Investigation and Intelligence Service has confiscated 158 boxes of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of P11 million in Zamboanga City pier, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. The team conducted the anti-smuggling operation on board M/V Kristel Jane 3 for allegedly carrying large quantities of smuggled tobacco products from Jolo, Sulu province, Saturday, February 9. “Operation resulted to the discovery and eventually confiscation of 158 boxes of smuggled cigarettes concealed inside the vessel’s engine room which emanated from Sandakan, Malaysia,” PCG said in a statement. The seized boxes were brought to BOC-District Zamboanga, Port Area, Zamboanga City for safekeeping prior disposition process.
https://mindanao.politics.com.ph/govt-team-seizes-p11m-smuggled-cigarettes-in-zamboanga-city/
Lear More
Hong Kong customs seize US$16.7 million of smuggled goods including drugs, ivory, shark fins, cigarettes and frozen meat in Lunar New Year raids.
Hong Kong customs seized HK$130 million (US$16.7 million) worth of items in an almost month-long effort to tackle cross-border smuggling ahead of and during the Lunar New Year. During a 27 day operation, which started on January 14 and ended on February 9, customs arrested 1,203 people in connection with about 1,300 smuggling cases. Goods from suspected endangered species, including pangolin scales, ivory tusks and products, red sandalwood logs, orchids and controlled shark fins, with an estimated value of about HK$73 million (US$9.4 million), accounted for 146 cases. Raids uncovered 61 drug smuggling cases, resulting in the arrest of 28 people and the seizure of about 130kg (287 pounds) of suspected illegal drugs with an estimated market value of HK$22 million (US$2.8 million). The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized smuggled, foreign-origin cigarettes worth ₹17 crore on February 5 and arrested two people involved in a cigarette-smuggling racket. According to DRI officials, this is one of the largest cigarette seizures in recent times. Acting on a tip-off, DRI officials intercepted a 40-feet container at a godown in Taloja, in Navi Mumbai, on Tuesday. The container was from Dubai and its destination was Aurangabad inland container depot (ICD). Inside, 650 master cartons were recovered, containing clove cigarettes of the Indonesian brand Gudang Garam. When the DRI team raided the godown, the cigarettes were being replaced with declared cargo (wash basins). The market value of the seized cigarettes is estimated at ₹17 crore. Gudang Garam is a popular brand among Indian smokers, according to the DRI. In October 2017, the agency seized ₹6.92 crore worth Gudang Garam cigarettes. During the raid, officials arrested Ranjay Kumar and Rajeev Kumar, and detained two others for questioning.
Lear More
Rs17-crore imported cigarettes seized in Navi Mumbai, 2 held.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized smuggled, foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs 17 crore on February 5 and arrested two people involved in a cigarette-smuggling racket. According to DRI officials, this is one of the largest cigarette seizures in recent times.
Acting on specific inputs, DRI officials intercepted a 40-feet container at a godown in Taloja, in Navi Mumbai, on Tuesday. The container was from Dubai and its destination was Aurangabad inland container depot (ICD).
Inside, 650 master cartons were recovered, containing clove cigarettes of the Indonesian brand Gudang Garam. When the DRI team raided the godown, the cigarettes were being replaced with declared cargo. The market value of the seized cigarettes is estimated at Rs 17 crore. Gudang Garam is a popular brand among Indian smokers, according to the DRI. In October 2017, the agency seized Rs 6.92 crore worth Gudang Garam cigarettes. During the raid, officials arrested Ranjay Kumar and Rajeev Kumar, and detained two others for questioning.
Lear More
₹17 crore imported cigarettes seized in Navi Mumbai, two arrested.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized smuggled, foreign-origin cigarettes worth ₹17 crore on February 5 and arrested two people involved in a cigarette-smuggling racket. According to DRI officials, this is one of the largest cigarette seizures in recent times.
Acting on a tip-off, DRI officials intercepted a 40-feet container at a godown in Taloja, in Navi Mumbai, on Tuesday. The container was from Dubai and its destination was Aurangabad inland container depot (ICD). Inside, 650 master cartons were recovered, containing clove cigarettes of the Indonesian brand Gudang Garam.
When the DRI team raided the godown, the cigarettes were being replaced with declared cargo (wash basins). The market value of the seized cigarettes is estimated at ₹17 crore. Gudang Garam is a popular brand among Indian smokers, according to the DRI. In October 2017, the agency seized ₹6.92 crore worth Gudang Garam cigarettes. During the raid, officials arrested Ranjay Kumar and Rajeev Kumar, and detained two others for questioning.
Lear More
₹17 crore imported cigarettes seized in Navi Mumbai, two arrested.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized smuggled, foreign-origin cigarettes worth ₹17 crore on February 5 and arrested two people involved in a cigarette-smuggling racket. According to DRI officials, this is one of the largest cigarette seizures in recent times. Acting on a tip-off, DRI officials intercepted a 40-feet container at a godown in Taloja, in Navi Mumbai, on Tuesday. The container was from Dubai and its destination was Aurangabad inland container depot (ICD). Inside, 650 master cartons were recovered, containing clove cigarettes of the Indonesian brand Gudang Garam. When the DRI team raided the godown, the cigarettes were being replaced with declared cargo (wash basins). The market value of the seized cigarettes is estimated at ₹17 crore. Gudang Garam is a popular brand among Indian smokers, according to the DRI. In October 2017, the agency seized ₹6.92 crore worth Gudang Garam cigarettes. During the raid, officials arrested Ranjay Kumar and Rajeev Kumar, and detained two others for questioning.
Lear MoreGang busted, Rs 6.9 crore smuggled gold seized.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted a gold smuggling racket and arrested four men including the kingpin from a hideout at in the city on Tuesday. They seized 20.6kg of gold worth 6.88 crore, 21 lakh in cash and a BMW car from them.
The kingpin, identified as Aulthan Syed Ibrahim, had engaged many carriers to smuggle gold into through smaller airports where customs checks are less. The others in custody are Ahamed Harris, 37, S Abdullah, 43 (both from Chennai) and Ahamed Akram, 28, a native of . DRI officials believe Ibrahim had engaged people also to smuggle gold from Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu by sea.
DRI sleuths have been keeping a watch on the suspects for two weeks. The arrested men were remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday. DRI sources said Ibrahim assigned people to smuggle gold especially from the Middle East. “Once smuggled in, the gold would be transported in imported, expensive cars which often escape routine police checks,” said an official.
Lear MoreGang busted, Rs 6.9 crore smuggled gold seized.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted a gold smuggling racket and arrested four men including the kingpin from a hideout at in the city on Tuesday. They seized 20.6kg of gold worth 6.88 crore, 21 lakh in cash and a BMW car from them. The kingpin, identified as Aulthan Syed Ibrahim, had engaged many carriers to smuggle gold into through smaller airports where customs checks are less. The others in custody are Ahamed Harris, 37, S Abdullah, 43 (both from Chennai) and Ahamed Akram, 28, a native of . DRI officials believe Ibrahim had engaged people also to smuggle gold from Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu by sea. DRI sleuths have been keeping a watch on the suspects for two weeks. The arrested men were remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday. DRI sources said Ibrahim assigned people to smuggle gold especially from the Middle East. “Once smuggled in, the gold would be transported in imported, expensive cars which often escape routine police checks,” said an official.
Lear More
Lorry driver jailed for smuggling cigarettes in frozen chickens.
Robert Januszewski, 48, of Poland, tried to smuggle cigarettes worth more than £2.5m in unpaid duty taxes through The Port of Hull, an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) revealed. Januszewski was stopped by Border Force officers as he entered Hull from Europort in Rotterdam, Holland, on 6 February last year. His paperwork said he was transporting a load of frozen chickens to an address in Leeds. However, when officers searched the refrigerated trailer, they found boxes filled with 9.7 million Richmond cigarettes. Januszewski claimed he did not know about the cigarettes which were seized by Border Force and the case was passed to HMRC for investigation. Mark Robinson, Border Force assistant director, said: “The size of the detection should leave people in no doubt that tobacco smuggling is a serious crime, worth big money to the criminals involved.
Lear More
Driver tried to smuggle ten million cigarettes into Hull disguised as frozen chickens.
A lorry driver caught smuggling almost ten million illegal cigarettes disguised as frozen chickens into Hull has been jailed.
Robert Januszewski, 48, of Poland, has been sentenced to four years in prison for trying to smuggle the cigarettes worth more than £2.5m in unpaid duty taxes through The Port of Hull. Januszewski was stopped by Border Force officers as he entered Hull from Europort in Rotterdam, Holland, on February 6 last year.
His paperwork said he was transporting a load of frozen chickens to an address in Leeds. But when officers searched the refrigerated trailer, they found boxes filled with 9,686,800 Richmond cigarettes.
Januszewski claimed he did not know about the cigarettes, which were seized by Border Force. The case was passed to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for investigation over claims £2,621,808 duty had not been paid.
Lear More