澳大利亚多机构执法部门联合破获两个犯罪网络，这些网络通过边境货运代理和仓库内的"可信内部人士"走私至少8000万澳元的电子烟和非法烟草制品。[1]新南威尔士州犯罪委员会与多机构特别工作队在多州开展搜查，共逮捕七名涉案内部人士。[1]
搜查中缴获的违禁品规模庞大，包括超过28.2万支电子烟（价值2100万澳元）、约3300万澳元的1-4丁二醇、35万支香烟以及现金17.2万澳元和价值300万澳元的黄金。[1]执法部门还查获价值250万澳元的奢侈手表和手袋。[1]
调查始于去年5月，当局查明摩尔班克货运代理公司的内部人士在过去三个月内进口了88批非法烟草。[1]新南威尔士州犯罪委员会已查封相关物流公司超过2500万澳元资产，澳大利亚边境部队暂停了悉尼和布里斯班公司仓库的许可证。[1]
三名被捕人员已被拒保释。其中彼得·平·谢因持有未授权手枪遭控，定于10月14日出庭；廷琪·周定于10月7日出庭；科克·隆·陈于本周四在悉尼机场被捕，定于10月14日出庭。[1]
Australian law enforcement agencies have dismantled two criminal networks that exploited trusted employees at border freight forwarders and warehouses to smuggle at least AUD $80 million worth of electronic cigarettes and illicit tobacco products into the country.[1] Seven "trusted insiders" were arrested across multiple states during coordinated raids that yielded more than 282,000 vaping devices valued at AUD $21 million, approximately AUD $33 million worth of 1-4 butanediol, and 350,000 cigarettes.[1]
The investigation, which began in May of the previous year, uncovered an extensive operation involving insiders at Moorbank freight forwarding company who imported 88 batches of illicit tobacco over a three-month period.[1] Beyond the vaping and tobacco products, authorities seized AUD $172,000 in cash, AUD $300,000 in gold, and luxury watches and handbags valued at AUD $2.5 million.[1] The NSW Crime Commission has frozen more than AUD $25 million in assets linked to the operation, while the Australian Border Force suspended warehouse licenses for companies in Sydney and Brisbane.[1]
Among those arrested, Peter Ping Xie was charged with possessing an unauthorized firearm and was refused bail, with his court appearance scheduled for October 14.[1] Tingqi Zhou was also denied bail and is due to appear on October 7, while Kok Loon Chan was apprehended at Sydney Airport on Thursday and will appear in court on October 14.[1]