Police have charged three people stemming from separate incidents after large amounts of illegal tobacco were located during routine vehicle stops conducted by the Riverina Traffic & Highway Patrol Command in the states south over the weekend.
About 2.15pm on Saturday (8 June 2024), officers stopped a vehicle along the Hume Highway, Tumblong, for random breath testing where the 42-year-old male driver returned a negative result.
After speaking with the man officers conducted a search of the vehicle where it will be alleged that 2,360 vapes with an estimated street value of $82,600 and 48 carton of cigarettes worth about $14,400 were located. Also allegedly located in the vehicle was $142,025 in cash.
He was arrested and taken to Gundagai Police Station where he was charged with:
- Possess tobacco 5 kilograms or above
- Deal with property proceeds of crime => $10000
- Deal with property proceeds of crime
- Convey/possess tobacco products reckless re defraud revenue
The Harris Park man was granted conditional bail to appear at Gundagai Local Court on Friday 16 August 2024.
Yesterday (Sunday 9 June 2024) about 11.35am a random breath test was conducted on a 35-year-old woman who was driving along the Hume Highway, Gundagai.
After returning a negative reading officers conducted a search of the vehicle where 270,000 cigarettes were allegedly located along with 825kg of loose tobacco leaf with an estimated value of $1,125,000. Police will further allege that a large commercial tobacco leaf hydraulic bailing machine was also located.
The Victoria woman was arrested and taken to Cootamundra Police Station. She was charged with:
- Possess tobacco 500 kilograms or above
- Possess equipment for illegal manufacture etc of tobacco
- Deal with property proceeds of crime => $10000
- Convey/possess tobacco products reckless re defraud revenue
She has been granted conditional bail to appear at Cootamundra Local Court on Monday 15 July 2024.
About 5.15pm that afternoon officers stopped a vehicle along the Hume Highway, Coolac, after an alleged minor traffic offence was detected.
After speaking with the two male occupants a search of the vehicle was undertaken where a large amount of cigarettes were located with an estimated value of $615,000.
Both men – the driver aged 32 and a male passenger – were arrested and taken to Cootamundra Police Station.
Following inquiries, the passenger was released from custody.
The 32-year-old man from Victoria was charged with:
- Possess tobacco 100 kilograms or above
- Deal with property proceeds of crime => $10000
- Convey/possess tobacco products reckless re defraud revenue
He has been granted conditional bail to appear at Cootamundra Local Court on Monday 15 July 2024.
All investigations were undertaken by the Southern Region Enforcement Squad.
