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The alleged ringleader of a criminal syndicate which illegally imported over 5 million cigarettes, 5,000 vapes and 7 tonnes of loose-leaf tobacco is led away by police after his arrest on Tuseday, Sept. 9, 2025. Photo courtesy Australian Federal Police
Five million cigarettes are among the vast quantities of tobacco products police allege a single criminal gang illegally imported into Australia over a 10-month period.
Their smuggling and distribution racket was ended when the Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF) raided properties across Melbourne on Sept. 9.
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
