THE Victoria Police's LUNA and VIPER taskforces are active in South Gippsland today, Tuesday, November 28, continuing their investigations into the illicit tobacco trade.
A police spokesperson confirmed the local area was under investigation:
"Police are currently in the Korumburra area as part of a planned operation. There is no immediate risk to community safety and further information will be provided once operationally appropriate to do so," police said this afternoon.
It is understood special taskforce police were active in the area from early in the morning.
More details to come.
It follows similar operations in the west of the state last week.
Here is the report in this week's South Gippsland Sentinel Times:
The specialist smokes shop in your town may not be linked to the “Middle Eastern Organised Crime groups and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs” running the illicit tobacco trade that’s rife across the state.
In fact, senior police have warned the community against drawing such conclusions, not only because they may actually be legitimate businesses, but also because these local operators might be the victims themselves of standover tactics.
But if they aren’t involved, they’re in the minority.
As revealed by Acting Commander Jason Kelly of the Victoria Police Crime Command, at media conference last Friday, November 24, after a major bust of regional Victorian tobacco outlets, as many as 500 to 600 of the 800-plus specialist tobacco outlets in the state are selling illicit tobacco.
And that’s a problem for two main reasons; those buying illicit tobacco products and vapes are lining the pockets of organised crime, and those selling the products are exposing their towns to arson attacks.
“The VIPER Taskforce yesterday (Thursday) conducted six searches of tobacco stores in the west of the state including Horsham, Stawell, Ararat, Warracknabeal and Nhill,” said Acting Commander Kelly.
“A total of seven people were arrested, and police subsequently seized more than 134,000 illicit cigarettes, 43kg of loose tobacco and 3655 vapes from the businesses, believed to be valued at over $350,000 in total.”
Those raids could easily have taken place in Gippsland, in fact, police conducted associated operations at Metung, Locknow and Churchill last week.
They also arrested a 40-year-old Williamstown man who police will allege was delivering illicit tobacco to a Horsham store that day. His vehicle was then searched and illicit tobacco, e-cigarettes and $40,000 cash were seized. He was interviewed and is expected to be charged on summons.
As part of Taskforce Lunar’s investigation, the VIPER Taskforce has conducted over 60 searches of tobacco stores across the state since the beginning of October. At this time, Taskforce Lunar investigators believe the arson attacks on tobacco stores are the result of criminal syndicates in conflict due to competition for profit derived from the illicit tobacco market.
“Police believe the syndicates are comprised of personnel from Middle Eastern Organised Crime groups and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, including the Finks OMCG. The current conflict includes both the physical placement of illicit tobacco into stores, as well as demands for stores to sell the syndicate’s illicit product and to pay a ‘tax’ per week to operate.
“There has been an immense focus on illicit tobacco and associated offending here in Victoria, particularly in relation to the reckless and dangerous arson attacks and firearms related violence.
“We created Taskforce Lunar to lead that investigation and they have been working closely with a number of specialist units as well as regional police,” said Acting Commander Jason Kelly.
“The operation this week has been about putting pressure on those organised crime groups we know are linked to illicit tobacco, no matter what state they are in or what part of the state they are in,” said AC Kelly.
“Regional areas are certainly not immune to this type of offending and those committing these offences in rural locations will absolutely face the same scrutiny.
“We are still seeing these arson attacks occur and tobacco stores involved in selling of illegal product, despite the significant publicity this investigation has received.
“Again, I want to be clear that police will continue to do everything we can to target those criminal syndicates involved and those who are choosing to benefit from fear and harm to the community.
“We will continue to conduct these operations across Victoria and also work closely with other states to disrupt this criminal activity and hold those involved to account,” he said.
“What we are seeing across Victoria is that illicit tobacco is a problem, statewide and nationally, and what we are doing is identifying linkages between the illicit tobacco trade and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. So, I am not going to articulate what we know but we do know there is a connection and through the days of action we have just conducted we have targeted both the illicit tobacco retailers, the organised crime syndicates and the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.”
He also made an appeal to those who buy illicit tobacco and those who may be “in too deep” selling it.
“My message to anyone running a store is if you are in too deep, then it’s time to come forward. We appreciate that it’s difficult and anyone considering going down the route of selling illicit tobacco, think twice. It’s very difficult to get out of organised crime once you’re in it.
“To those in the tobacco retail industry who have provided information about organised crime, I thank those who have come forward to date and I would encourage those members of the public to come forward via Crimestoppers 1800 333 000, which can be done anonymously. Any piece of information could be key to bringing the ongoing disruption we are seeing in the illicit tobacco trade brought to a halt and I say that a lot of the activities conducted to date has been based on information provided by the public.
“We know that from our store visits over the past couple of months that not every store, as I have said, is involved in these disputes however, it does have the potential to impact every store across Victoria, including innocent parties.
“For those who purchase tobacco, including illicit tobacco from stores, and I’ve said it before, they are putting money directly into the pockets of organised crime that then funds other activities, including illicit drug importation and firearms activity. So, I would ask members of the public to think twice about buying illicit tobacco.”
Acting Commander Kelly acknowledged that the Health Department through local councils also have a role to play in enforcing the law where tobacco retailers are concerned.
However, the Herald Sun has reported in recent days that some council workers have had “heavies” turning up at their doorstep in an effort to discourage them from acting.
It has thrown the onus back on government to introduce protective legislation.
Acting Commander Kelly said he would also welcome a beefing up of government legislation that would impact the sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vaping products by tobacco retailers but “that legislation is a matter for government”.
If you have information about the illicit sale of tobacco in your area, especially the involvement of organised crime, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
Read it in this week's Sentinel-Times:
