Australian customs and border protection staff on Thursday said they have seized more than 2.5 million illegally imported cigarettes.
According to Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor, this is a large seizure that represents 1.214 million U.S. dollars in evaded
government revenue, and is the latest interception as part of the work of Customs and Border Protection to stop counterfeit and illegally imported tobacco into Australia.
Last month, customs officers at the Brisbane Container Examination Facility were suspicious of a shipping container from Hong Kong, China
that was marked by the importer as holding bubble wrap and lunch boxes.
Officers conducted an initial container X-ray, and when that raised their suspicions, the goods were unpacked and a physical examination uncovered the cigarettes.
"While cigarettes and tobacco are not illegal items in Australia, it is against the law to fail to declare what is being brought into Australia, and duty evasion is also illegal," O' Connor said in a statement released on Thursday.
"Counterfeit products can also be subject to civil action from the registered trademark owners."
Customs and Border Protection said over the past four years, they have seized 977 tonnes of tobacco and 286 million illegally imported cigarettes in sea cargo, which represents potential revenue evasion of about 402 million U.S. dollars.
Under Australia's Customs Act, the penalty for smuggling and evading duty is five times the amount of tax evaded and a possible 10-year jail sentence.