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Criminals Use Sophisticated Fakes to Bypass Laws
15 Oct
Summary
- Counterfeit tobacco with Australian warnings made in Asia.
- Criminal syndicates use industrial-scale factories for fakes.
- New laws aim to disrupt illegal tobacco supply chains.
Government warnings highlight the escalating sophistication of counterfeit tobacco operations, primarily based in Southeast Asian warehouses. Criminal syndicates are industrially producing fake cigarettes, some even featuring Australian health warnings, to bypass existing regulations.
Customs Minister Julian Hill has urged the swift passage of new legislation to grant law enforcement enhanced powers. This bill seeks to disrupt illegal tobacco trade lines and choke off profits derived from these illicit activities. The concern is that these evolving tactics make detection increasingly difficult.
Several Australian states and territories are intensifying enforcement, with NSW police recently closing multiple retailers and seizing large quantities of illegal tobacco and vapes. These measures reflect a broader crackdown on black-market shopfronts nationwide.
