Vape, Tobacco Smugglers Busted by MAST Detectives
MAST detectives arrested seven people, seizing millions in illicit vapes and tobacco.Summary
MAST, a joint task force of NSW Police, AFP, ABF, NSWCC, ACIC, AUSTRAC, and ATO, charged seven individuals and dismantled two multi‑million‑dollar criminal networks involved in importing illicit tobacco and vaping products into Australia. Operations in 2025‑2026 led to seizures of 91,000 vapes worth $6.8 million, 191,654 vapes worth $14.3 million, 51 boxes of illicit tobacco, $690,000 cash, $300,000 gold bullion, $172,000 cash, $1.5 million luxury watches, $1 million luxury handbags, two firearms, 1.65 tonnes of 1‑4‑butanediol, 350,000 cigarettes, five vehicles, and the freezing of over $25 million in assets, including 14 properties. The suspects faced charges ranging from possession of unauthorised firearms to fraud and money‑laundering offences, with several remanded in custody and others granted conditional bail. Authorities emphasized that coordinated agency action disrupts the logistics networks that fund organised crime and protects public health and border security.
(Source：Mirage News)
