Jail term for illegal tobacco trafficking

Media Release - Nat 04/030

Two men have been jailed in the Mackay District Court today on charges of possessing and moving illegal tobacco with an excise value of around $1.26 million.

Brian Robert Warner, of the Melbourne suburb of Narre Warren, was sentenced to 12 months jail, with four months to serve, after pleading guilty to two charges under the Excise Act.

He was stopped by Queensland Police at Clermont on 19 September 2003 carrying around four tonnes of tobacco. The amount of excise that would have been evaded if this tobacco had been processed and sold to consumers was $1,073,000.

Samir Maluhija, of the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo, has been sentenced to nine months jail, fully suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing illegal tobacco.

Mr Maluhija was stopped by Clermont Police on 17 December 2002 with just over 700kgs of illegal tobacco in his vehicle. The amount of excise that would have been evaded if this tobacco had been processed and sold was $186,000.

Tax Commissioner Michael Carmody said the sentences sent a strong message to those involved in the illegal tobacco trade.

"The Tax Office is devoting significant resources to its compliance activities in this area and is committed to curbing the flow of tobacco to the illegal market," Mr Carmody said.

"A large number of investigators are working nationally to detect, identify and prosecute people supplying illegal tobacco leaf."

In the past year, the Tax Office seized around 60 tonnes of tobacco leaf and cut tobacco with an excise value of almost $16 million.

CANBERRA
4 May 2004

Last Modified: Tuesday, 4 May 2004