Tobacconists in Echuca and Kyabram have been hit with further raids, officers allegedly seizing illicit tobacco, cash and a small quantity of drugs.
On Tuesday, September 17, local uniformed police and Criminal Investigation Unit executed simultaneous search warrants at two premises.
Stores at 240 Pakenham St, Echuca, and Allan St, Kyabram, were targeted around 2pm.
A Tarneit man, 26, and Taylors Lakes man, 23, face four tobacco-related charges, and have been bailed to appear at the Echuca Magistrates’ Court later this year.
Police said they seized 19,960 sticks of tobacco with the street value of $19,960 and a large amount of cash from the Echuca store.
This had an estimated tax excise revenue loss of around $5400.
From the Kyabram store, 7834 sticks of tobacco with a street value of $7834 were allegedly seized.
Police said these had an estimated tax excise revenue loss of around $10,700.
A further 105 e-cigarettes with a street value of $5250, 1.2kg of loose tobacco with a street value of $360, a large quantity of cash and 32 grams of cannabis were allegedly seized at the Kyabram store.
The loose tobacco had an estimated tax excise revenue loss of around $2522.
This was the third search warrant at the Pakenham St store and the second warrant at the Allan St location.
Since August 22, police also allegedly seized 39,097 sticks of tobacco with a street value of $39,097, 312 e-cigarettes with a street value of $15,600 and 36kg of loose tobacco with a street value of $10,800 from stores on Hare and Nish Sts, Echuca.
Police estimated a tax excise revenue loss of around $53,400 for the sticks and of around $75,700 for the loose tobacco.
Nine people, of which eight are from Melbourne, are set to appear at the Echuca Magistrates’ Court at the end of the year as part of this operation.
The total seizure amount since August 22 is 212,951 sticks of tobacco with a street value of $212,951, 1989 e-cigarettes with a street value of $99,450 and 75.7kg of loose tobacco with a street value of $22,710.
The sticks of tobacco have a total tax excise revenue loss of around $290,900 and of around $159,100 for the loose tobacco, police estimate.