More than one-and-a-half TONNES of illegal tobacco worth a staggering $1.5m is seized during a raid by anti-bikie cops at a warehouse

THOMAS DUFF
16 August 2019
DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

More than one-and-a-half tonnes of illegal tobacco with a street value of $1.5million has been seized during a raid by police at a warehouse.

A search warrant was executed by Strike Force Raptor at an industrial unit in Fairfield in Sydney’s south-west about 5pm on Tuesday.

Police found 73 boxes containing tobacco, which has been taken for further analysis.

Inquiries are continuing, and no arrests have been made at this stage.

Police urge anyone with information, including relevant photos and videos, that may assist investigators to contact them. 

The latest seizure comes after a report released by Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission that stated a record 30.6 tonnes of illicit drugs worth about $5billion were found in Australia last year.

ACIC boss Michael Phelan said serious and organised criminals are at the centre of the country’s illicit drug market.

‘The estimated street value of the weight of amphetamines, MDMA, cocaine and heroin seized nationally in 2017-18 is nearly $5 billion, underlining the size of the black economy that relates to illicit drugs alone,’ Mr Phelan said.

‘We know serious and organised crime groups continue to generate significant profits from the sale of illicit substances, with the price paid for illicit drugs in Australia among the highest in the world.’

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