Media Release
Charge upgraded for WA man allegedly involved in cross-border $1.69 million cash and tobacco trafficking
Editor’s note: Images and footage available via Hightail.
The AFP has upgraded a charge against a West Australian man scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today (9 May, 2025) over his alleged role in an illicit tobacco smuggling syndicate.
The AFP initially charged the Baldivis man, 26, on 28 March, 2025, with proceeds of crime and illicit tobacco offences after seizing bundles of cash that were concealed in microwave ovens waiting to be shipped to Melbourne, as well as thousands of illicit tobacco products.
Following further investigation, the AFP will today upgrade the charge of dealing with suspected proceeds of crime valued at $100,000 or more, to a charge of dealing with suspected proceeds of crime valued at $1,000,000 or more.
The new charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment, compared with 20 years’ imprisonment under the original charge.
The upgraded charge reflects the final tally of seized cash increasing to $1.2 million from the original estimate of $900,000.
The seizures were made under Operation Snug, an AFP investigation into an organised crime group allegedly dealing in the proceeds of crime from the sale of illicit tobacco and vaping products in WA.
The AFP will allege the Baldivis man co-ordinated the trafficking of illicit tobacco products from interstate, before selling them at three tobacco stores in Perth and then sending the profits back to members of the criminal syndicate in the eastern states.
In February, 2025, the AFP executed a search warrant at a post office in Marrickville South in Sydney and seized almost $470,000 cash, which was concealed in eight packages.
The AFP will allege the group had used the postal system to traffic the cash, which was suspected to be proceeds from the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes, from WA to the eastern states.
After the Marrickville South seizures, further investigation allegedly identified the group concealing cash in packaged microwave ovens, using unsuspecting courier companies to move shipments interstate.
As a result of the investigation, the AFP executed search warrants on 27 March, 2025, at the 26-year-old's Baldivis home, a courier company in Perth’s southern suburbs, and various storage facilities across Perth.
The AFP allegedly located the cash-filled microwaves at the courier company, and seized about 645,000 cigarettes, 19,000 vapes, and 200 pouches of loose-leaf tobacco from the other locations.
The man will now be prosecuted for:
- One count of dealing with money believed to be the proceeds of crime and at the time of the dealing the value of the money was $1,000,000 or more, contrary to section 400.3(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years’ imprisonment; and
- One count of possession of tobacco being an excisable good where excise duty is payable on the tobacco and the weight is 100kg or more, contrary to division 308, section 115 of the Taxation Administration Act (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is five years’ imprisonment.
AFP Acting Inspector Gabby Adam said the AFP remained committed to protecting the community from serious organised crime syndicates and the harm caused by their illegal operations.
“Criminal networks are driven by greed and will deal with any commodity they think they can make a profit from, then use that money to fund other serious illegal activities,” a/Insp Adam said.
“Criminals also have no regard for the significant health issues these products present for the Australian community and the burden they place on our health systems.
“Every time the AFP seizes illegal tobacco products and the cash involved in selling them, it disrupts the harmful impact of organised crime groups on our communities.”
Investigations under Operation Snug remain ongoing.
