Australian Border Force (ABF) officers have cancelled the visas of four elderly Chinese nationals after seizing 145,000 cigarettes, vape accessories and heat sticks worth an estimated AU$250,000 in evaded duty. The passengers – three men aged 65-67 and a 64-year-old woman – arrived from Shanghai on 10 September and were referred for visa cancellation under sections 116 and 102 of the Migration Act. All four were refused immigration clearance and removed from Australia, the ABF confirmed on 21 September. The incident highlights intensified enforcement against illicit-tobacco smuggling, which last financial year saw officers intercept more than 214,000 cigarettes and 3.4 tonnes of loose tobacco at Melbourne International Airport alone. Acting Superintendent Costas Karatzas said illicit-tobacco profits often bankroll broader organised-crime activity: “We’ll continue to target anyone who looks to profit from the importation of illicit tobacco, no matter the methodology.” For airlines and corporate travel teams, the case is a reminder that undeclared tobacco can trigger not only fines but visa cancellation and detention. Mobility managers should update pre-departure briefings, particularly for short-term assignees from countries where duty-free allowances differ significantly from Australia’s strict limits.
Source: Sydney Times
