Two Perth brothers have fronted court accused of possessing more than five tonnes of illicit tobacco products.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) uncovered vapes, tobacco and cigarettes they say are linked to a national organised crime syndicate.
An unassuming Wangara warehouse was found stacked with boxes allegedly hiding illegal tobacco.
They are products linked to escalating violence across the country, the AFP says.
“Firebombings and extortion offences have put innocent citizens and their livelihoods at risk,” Detective Acting Superintendent Matt Taylor said.
“This is also a threat to Australia’s national security.”
The AFP executed multiple search warrants in August, including searching five storage units and a Dianella home, and uncovered five tonnes of allegedly illegal tobacco.
More than 4 million cigarettes were seized, as well as close to 900 kilograms of loose leaf tobacco and nearly 50,500 vapes.
Police say if sold illegally, it would see $8 million in Commonwealth excises and taxes avoided, instead going into the pockets of an alleged national organised crime syndicate.
“Organised crime controls and reaps multimillion-dollar profits from this black market trade which has led to violent crimes here in WA and across Australia,” Taylor said.
Two Perth brothers have been arrested over seizure, Hossain and Mousa Al Monsouri, both in their early 30s.
The maximum penalty for possessing more than 1000 times the commercial quantity of vapes is seven years behind bars and a fine of $1.65 million
The brothers are due back in court next month.
