Back
73· Active
War & Conflict1h 40m ago
In the first five months of this year, 982 million illicit cigarettes have been seized entering Australia, alongside 395 tonnes of illicit tobacco and 5.5 million vapes.
Australia, Sydney’s Port Botany, Melbourne, western Sydney
Who
Brendan Thomas (CEO of AUSTRAC), Chris Richardson (economist), Scott Weber (Police Federation of Australia), NSW Police Force
What
In the first five months of this year, 982 million illicit cigarettes have been seized entering Australia, alongside 395 tonnes of illicit tobacco and 5.5 million vapes.
When
Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:45:21 GMT · 1h 40m ago
Where
Australia, Sydney’s Port Botany, Melbourne, western Sydney ·
Why
The aggressive government excise policy since 2019, which significantly increased tobacco prices, has created a lucrative black market for cheaper, illegally imported cigarettes and vapes.
The Frontline Impact
How this affects you
Australia is experiencing a surge in organized crime activities, including firebombings, kidnappings, and extortion, fueled by an estimated $6 billion annual black market in illicit tobacco and vapes, leading to approximately $7 billion in lost tax revenue to the government.
Story chain
1 event in this threadNo related history yet - this is the origin event.
Verified Sources & Citations
Credibility ratings reflect the AI ingestion pipeline's assessment of source provenance.