A tradesman will have to pay nearly $20,000 after trying to smuggle cartons of cigarettes into Australia.
The 32-year-old man, from Victoria Park, tried to sneak 45 cartons of cigarettes through Perth International Airport.
He had been returning from a trip in Europe before buying the cigarettes at a duty free shop in Dubai during the flight changeover, WA Today reported.
The man had declared on his Incoming Passenger Card that he was only bringing back the allowed 25 cigarettes in an attempt to avoid paying the $6,200 in duty.
Though in actual fact, he was found with 9,000 cigarettes.
Australian Border Force officers stopped the man at the airport after discovering the large quantity.
‘The ABF has the commitment and the means to detect even small amounts of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco, and the consequences for those caught can be very severe,’ Western Australia ABF regional commander Rod O’Donnell said.
The man was hauled before the courts and pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling cigarettes, evading duty payable, and making false or misleading statements to a customs officer.
He was handed a fine and told to pay court costs – a total of $19,574.
Australian Border Force detected more than 240 million cigarettes and 217 tonnes of tobacco last financial year.
From July 1, new tobacco import rules will make it a requirement for someone wishing to import tobacco to also hold a permit.
