The federal government has announced a new national taskforce designed to coordinate efforts across multiple agencies to combat the growing illegal tobacco market and other serious criminal activities.
A Coordinated Response to a Growing Threat
The new initiative, called the National Disruption Group, will bring together a range of law enforcement and regulatory bodies to address the complex web of organised crime connected to illicit tobacco. The group will be led by the Australian Border Force and include contributions from state and federal police, AUSTRAC, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Taxation Office, and several federal departments, including Health and Agriculture.
The government says that illegal tobacco has become deeply intertwined with other criminal activity, including drug trafficking, arson, and even exploitation offences. This overlap means agencies need to share intelligence and work together more effectively across different parts of government.
Targeting Criminal Networks and Their Enablers
The new group will focus on dismantling mid-level operations, including importers, warehouse operators, distributors, and retailers who profit from the illegal trade. Authorities will also investigate the flow of money behind these networks to disrupt their financial operations.
Funding for the initiative will come from an existing $188.5 million package previously allocated to strengthen Border Force’s work in intercepting illicit tobacco at the border. In total, the federal government has committed around $350 million to tackling this problem since last year.
Addressing the Wider Impact
While enforcement is a key focus, the group will also explore new regulatory and legislative measures to make it harder for criminal groups to operate. This could include tighter controls on supply chains and more robust penalties for businesses involved in selling or distributing unlicensed tobacco or vaping products.
The government maintains that its tax policies are not to blame for the black-market growth, despite some critics suggesting otherwise. Officials argue that organised crime groups have simply found tobacco to be a lucrative source of funding, and that coordinated enforcement is the most effective way to combat the issue.
Why It Matters
Illegal tobacco has become one of Australia’s most pressing law enforcement and public health challenges. In addition to costing the government billions in lost tax revenue, it has sparked turf wars, arson attacks, and violent crime across several states.
The new taskforce will aim to strengthen Australia’s defences both before and after illegal goods reach the border, while closing the gaps that allow criminal groups to operate in the first place. By targeting the networks that enable these operations, authorities hope to protect legitimate businesses and restore fairness in the retail fuel and convenience market.
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