Media Release
WA duo charged over seizure of millions of illicit cigarettes and vapes
Editor’s note: Search warrant vision available via Hightail.
Two brothers allegedly involved in the distribution of illicit tobacco products in Western Australia are expected to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today (31 October, 2025) charged over the seizure of more than five tonnes of illicit cigarettes, vapes and loose tobacco.
The AFP charged a Nedlands man, 32, and a Dianella man, 33, as part of an investigation into a national organised crime syndicate allegedly selling illicit tobacco and vaping products in WA, then sending the profits back to the eastern states.
The men were charged after the AFP and the Western Australia Police Force, with the assistance of Australian Border Force, executed multiple search warrants in Perth on 20 August, 2025, and seized more than four million cigarettes, close to 50,500 vapes and almost 900kg of loose-leaf tobacco.
Police will allege distributing the seized products illegally would have avoided about $8 million in Commonwealth excise and taxes.
The illicit products were found during searches of a Wangara warehouse, five storage units across Perth and two vehicles allegedly used by the men, with some items also found at the Dianella man’s home.
The AFP later charged both men and they will appear in court for the first time today, each facing:
- One count of possession of tobacco being an excisable good where excise duty is payable on the tobacco and the weight is 500kg or more, contrary to division 308, section 10 of the Taxation Administration Act (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is five years’ imprisonment, and/or a fine of $330,000; and
- One count of possessing more than 1000 times the commercial quantity or more of vapes, contrary to section 41QC(7) of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is seven years’ imprisonment, and/or a fine of $1.65 million.
AFP Detective acting Superintendent Matt Taylor said the AFP and its state and Commonwealth partners were focused on disrupting organised crime groups’ involvement in illicit tobacco trafficking.
“Organised crime’s bid to control and reap multimillion-dollar profits from this black-market trade has led to violent crimes in WA and across the country, including fire-bombings, extortion and firearms offences, put law-abiding citizens’ lives and their livelihoods at risk,” Det a/Supt Taylor said.
“This is a threat to Australia’s national security, and the AFP is committed to protecting the community by dismantling illegal operations, putting those involved before the courts and using proceeds of crime laws to strip them of their ill-gotten gains.”
Investigations are ongoing.
