A Perth businessman has been charged over attempting to smuggle huge quantities of tobacco, cigarettes and prohibited Kamini tablets from India.
The Australian Border Force alleges 48-year-old Kaushik Bajaria – the operator of the Indian grocery business, The Spice Merchant, in Perth, attempted to evaded nearly $4 million in duty applicable to the import of cigarettes and molasses tobacco.
The ABF says the contraband was hidden behind a “cover load of food” items brought in from India in a shipping container on 18 February. The items were discovered by the ABF officers when the container was examined x-rayed and detector dogs subsequently indicated the presence of tobacco.
The ABF said the officers found over a ton of molasses tobacco, 810,000 cigarettes, 1,200 Kamini pills and 77 kilos of chewing tobacco.
Bottles of Kamini pills Source: Supplied / Australian Border Force
Kamini pills were declared illegal in Australia after SBS Punjabi aired an exclusive investigation revealing how despite containing opium poppy, were easily available in ethnic grocery stores in Melbourne and other cities.
Following the discovery of these items, ABF officers executed search warrants at the Osborne Park grocery business of Mr Bajaria and a home in Scarborough in Perth on 6th March and a number of tobacco products were allegedly recovered besides documents and electronic devices.
He was arrested and charged with importing tobacco products with the intention of defrauding the revenue. He was granted bail and is now due in the Perth Magistrate’s Court on 12 April.
Another container meant for the same business was also inspected on the day he was charged. The ABF alleged over 1.5 ton of molasses tobacco, 480,000 cigarettes and nearly 100 kilos of chewing tobacco were recovered from the container.
Mr Bajaria told SBS Punjabi that he couldn’t comment on the matter as it was still under investigation, but said “it’ll all be out. It’s just a matter of time”.
The ABF’s acting regional commander for Western Australia Emma Newman said the seizures will put a significant dent in the supply of illicit tobacco in WA.
Source: Supplied / Australian Border Force
“People who engage in this kind of behaviour - whether it’s growing, importing, supplying or buying black market tobacco - not only put money into the hands of organised crime, but take away potential tax dollars from the Australian community, Acting Commander Newman said.
“Targeting and dismantling this criminal activity is an operational priority for the ABF. We will find those who participate in this illegal trade, and hold them to account.”
The maximum penalty for tobacco smuggling is 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to five times the amount of duty evaded.
The illicit tobacco market in Australia is worth about $600 million a year in evaded revenue.
