A 22-year old Malaysian man has been charged with cigarette smuggling after the discovery of 30 cartons allegedly concealed inside a false data cable spool.
The discovery was made at an air cargo berth in Perth.
According to the Australian Border Force, the man, who is in Australia on a student visa, was arrested at his Nollamara home yesterday.
The consignment from China was intercepted at the depot on Saturday, February 29.
An x-ray revealed anomalies, and upon closer examination, the cable spool was found to container 30 cartons, or 6000 cigarettes, were found inside a compartment in the body of the spool, seemingly concealed behind a thin layer of cable.
The amount on duty payable on 6,000 cigarettes is just over $5,600.
Superintendent of ABF Enforcement Operations in Western Australia, Clint Sims, said the arrest was part of a wider investigation into illicit cigarette smuggling and distribution.
“We’ll be alleging that this man was planning to sell the cigarettes on social media platforms at a significant profit,” Superintendent Sims said.
“ABF officers are well aware of the many varied and creative ways smugglers will try to get prohibited and illicit items across the border.”
