Eight people were arrested and charged on Tuesday for their part in directing and assisting an organised crime syndicate.
Police will allege the syndicate was leasing stores, employing staff and making deliveries under the guise of operating the stores as legitimate gift and confectionary businesses, while selling only illicit tobacco and related products.
They say transaction records show the syndicate earned more than $30 million in a 12-month period through the sale of illegal tobacco in the stores.
Officers executed more than 27 search warrants across Victoria including tobacco shops, warehouses and residential addresses.
Police have laid a number of charges following raids on the illegal tobacco trade. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)
A 25-year-old Hoppers Crossing man was arrested at Melbourne Airport on his way to Dubai just before 6am.
He has been charged with the Commonwealth offence of directing the activities of a criminal organisation, possessing tobacco products with the intent of defrauding the revenue, possessing proceeds of crime and selling/distributing e-cigarettes.
The maximum penalty for directing a criminal organisation is 15 years in jail.
Four other people have been charged with the same offences.
Two of the accused - Nazir Haddara and Isse Isse - briefly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon, where their cases were adjourned to Wednesday morning.
Two others, a 50-year-old Grovedale woman and 51-year-old Glen Waverley man, have been bailed until Monday.
Others arrested on Tuesday are expected to be charged on summons with an array of offences linked to the illegal tobacco industry.
Police seized a Lamborghini Coupe and Range Rover from a Hoppers Crossing address, at least 600,000 illicit tobacco sticks, more than 75kg of loose-leaf tobacco and a significant quantity of cash from the residential properties as well as utilities and vans investigators will allege were used in the distribution of illicit tobacco.
Detectives from the VIPER and Lunar taskforces have this morning charged eight people with Commonwealth offences for their part in directing and assisting an organised crime syndicate.— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) Details: https://t.co/7pppL4t2EC pic.twitter.com/clvmqgjO6eOctober 22, 2024
Searches of the tobacco stores are ongoing with total seizures to be confirmed.
The police operation would have a "substantial impact on the illicit tobacco trade", Crime Command Assistant Commissioner Martin O'Brien said.
"These were significant players who we believe were directing the activity of a criminal organisation, turning a huge profit at the expense of others," he said.
Victoria is in the grip of a tobacco war, with opposing crime syndicates battling for a bigger piece of the pie.
Warring groups are fighting for control of the lucrative tobacco and vape black market, enlisting youths to carry out fire bombings on rival stores.
More than 100 firebombings have been linked to the dispute between Middle Eastern organised crime syndicates and outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Premier Jacinta Allan in March committed to establishing a scheme for retailers and wholesale tobacco suppliers, with legislation flagged to hit the floor of parliament before the end of 2024.
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