More than 10 government agencies will work together in a “first-of-its-kind whole-of-Government” capability to tackle the illicit tobacco market.
Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner Gavan Reynolds said the ABF would lead the new Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group (ITNDG) with the aim of making it harder for criminals to profit from illegal tobacco.
Commissioner Reynolds said the ITNDG brought together traditional and non-traditional federal, state and territory agencies such as police, tax, health, financial and other regulatory organisations to share intelligence and coordinate joint action against those importing, selling or distributing illicit tobacco.
He said the new group would focus on the mid-level criminals and enablers operating within small business, the retailer sector, intermediaries (such as couriers, property owners etc.) and sole traders – while the ABF-led Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF) would continue to target serious criminal syndicates importing or producing tobacco on a large scale.
“Together the two teams will disrupt the illicit tobacco and e-cigarette trade – from import to street sale”
Commissioner Reynolds said expanding enforcement beyond traditional policing agencies connected regulatory compliance to a coordinated national disruption response while removing the burden on police so they could focus on the serious organised elements of illicit tobacco crime.
He said the innovative and intelligence-led operating model was a first-of-its-kind whole-of-Government capability designed to disrupt and dismantle illicit tobacco operators swiftly by exploiting avenues not previously utilised in a joined-up capacity.
“A key feature of the ITNDG operating model includes novel agency partnerships working collaboratively using each agency’s respective powers and capabilities.
“Specifically, this will involve intelligence sharing to support investigative and other regulatory activities that result in impactful outcomes to break the business model of the illicit tobacco trade.”
Commissioner Reynolds said the goal was to break the business model.
“We are seizing record levels of illicit tobacco at our borders, and we are seeing great results with our international partners offshore, but we know the trade doesn’t stop there.
“Our goal is simple: to break the business model that makes illicit tobacco profitable. We will make the current operating environment hostile for anyone trading in illicit tobacco. That means continued focus action against organised syndicates and now the smaller actors and enablers who fuel the market.”
Current federal partner agencies in the National Disruption Group include:
- Home Affairs.
- The Australian Federal Police.
- AUSTRAC.
- Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
- Australian Taxation Office.
- Department of Health Disability and Ageing.
- Therapeutic Goods Administration.
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
- Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commission.
- Services Australia.
