High-End Off-Road Vehicles Seized in Illegal Tobacco Probe: Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series and Mercedes G-Class Impounded

Police Seize $8.4 Million in Assets Linked to Illegal Tobacco Trade

Authorities have confiscated $8.4 million in assets, including two popular off-road vehicles, as part of a crackdown on illegal tobacco trading. The joint police task force, known as the Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), seized a Mercedes-AMG G63 and a Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, along with other properties and assets.

According to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth), these seized assets can be liquidated, and the funds will be used for crime prevention and diversion programs. The investigation into the illegal tobacco trade in the Northern Territory led to the seizure of a significant amount of cigarettes, vapes, loose tobacco, and other items.

AFP investigators, working under the CACT, discovered that the assets of a 27-year-old Queensland man exceeded his lawful income, leading to the confiscation orders. The legislation allows for the restraint and confiscation of both the proceeds and instruments of crime.

The CACT collaborates with agencies like the Australian Taxation Office and Australian Border Force to track and seize criminal assets. Recent operations have resulted in the seizure of millions of dollars worth of assets, including luxury vehicles like Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and McLarens.

Commander Jason Kennedy of the AFP emphasized the commitment to targeting the profits of illegal activities, stating that those who engage in criminal behavior risk not only imprisonment but also the loss of their illicit gains.

Overall, the crackdown on illegal tobacco trading aims to send a strong message to offenders that their illegal actions will not go unpunished.