Four crops in the Goulburn district were among more than 131 tonnes of tobacco seized and destroyed nationwide in the last financial year.
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An Australian Taxation Office spokesperson said the haul represented forgone excise revenue of $171 million.
THE ATO's Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF), working in conjunction with police and Australian Border Force, executed 19 search warrants and uncovered over 75ha of the crop growing regional NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
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Around Goulburn, they seized and destroyed:
- An 1.5ha crop or 10,300kg valued at $13.3m at Boxers Creek in February, 2020;
- A 4.3ha crop, or 5900kg valued at $7.7m at Peelwood in March, 2020.
- A 1.3ha or 1950kg crop worth an estimated $2.5m at Bungonia in April, 2020;
- A 3.5 hectare crop or 12,200kg worth an estimated $15.9 million at Bevendale in May, 2020;
An ATO spokesperson said two of the people charged in the Boxers Creek find were illegal workers and had faced court. A third person is yet to face court.
The Office said the largest single seizure was in Lake Bolac in Victoria, with the ATO, Victoria Police and Australian Border Force officers locating 12ha of tobacco, seizing and destroying 28 tonnes worth approximately $36.6 million in lost excise.
A total of 65 tonnes worth approximately $85 million was seized and destroyed in NSW, 57.8 tonnes worth $75.5 million in Victoria and eight tonnes worth $10 million in Queensland.
Assistant Commissioner Ian Read said the ATO was committed to disrupting organised crime syndicates that produced and supply illegal tobacco for sale on the black market in Australia.
"The trade in illicit tobacco products in Australia has widespread negative consequences across the community," he said.
"Tobacco growing operations are not run by small producers or farmers. They are run by organised crime syndicates who deliberately engage in illegal activities to fund their extravagant lifestyles and other criminal activity.
"We're finding crops in regional and remote areas of the country, being grown on land being leased from unsuspecting owners under the guise of growing vegetables."
Mr Read said some of the operations flowed from community tip-offs. He urged people to continue reporting any activity they believed was related to illicit tobacco production.
They can do so online at ato.gov.au/illicittobacco or by calling 1800 060 062.
It has been illegal to grow tobacco in Australia for more than a decade. If convicted, a maximum penalty of up to 10 years' prison applies.
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