A Wyndham man has been charged as Victoria Police continue their investigation into the alleged sale of illicit tobacco in Victoria.
Officers from the specially formed VIPER Taskforce searched two tobacco stores in Korumburra and Highett and a home in Hoppers Crossing on Monday afternoon.
Police say they found more than 93,000 cigarettes, over $90,000 cash and a small quantity of e-cigarettes at the home.
A 48-year-old Hoppers Crossing man was arrested and charged with a string of offences including 16 counts of possess tobacco products with intent to defraud.
Meantime around 50,000 cigarettes along with loose leaf tobacco and more e-cigarettes were allegedly seized from the two stores.
“Victoria Police will continue relentlessly working our way up until we get all the way to the top of these organised crime groups,” Detective Inspector Craig Darlow said.
“Every single person involved will be held to account,” he said.
“To that end, we implore any store owners who have information about illicit tobacco or the syndicates involved to provide that information to us, it can be done anonymously.
“We want to assure business owners that police are doing everything we can to put a stop to this and the danger these attacks present to both their livelihoods and staff.”
The Hoppers Crossing man will reappear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court in June.
