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Two people have been arrested, more than $600,000 in cash seized and a criminal network dismantled by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and Victoria Police, as alleged offender is found living in a storage shed.
Operation OLDTOWN, led by the ABF's Illicit Tobacco Task Force (ITTF) was established following the seizure of approximately 10.8 million illicit cigarettes in Melbourne in June 2026. The cigarettes had arrived from Singapore and represented approximately $15.8 million in evaded duty.
Subsequent enquiries identified a coordinated importation network involving Singaporean and Malaysian entities linked to multiple container shipments into Melbourne and Sydney since April 2025. Intelligence also identified associations between the persons of interest and broader organised crime networks suspected of other criminal activities, including border-controlled drug importations, counterfeit goods and historical tobacco smuggling.
On 15 October 2026, officers from the ITTF executed a Customs Act warrant at an apartment complex in Glen Waverley, Victoria. During the warrant, officers located two unlawful non-citizens, a 28 year-old female who was detained by ABF officers and transferred to Immigration Detention, and a 31 year-old man who was arrested and charged under the Customs Act, for importing tobacco with intention to defraud the government of revenue and possess and convey tobacco products. The man was refused bail and is due to appear in court on 12 January 2027.
ABF officers also seized more than AUD $29,000 in cash, 9,600 illicit cigarettes and several electronic devices located in the apartment complex.
On 28 October 2026, Victoria Police's North West Metro Regional Crime Squad, supported by the ITTF executed warrants at a residential property in Meadow Heights and a storage facility in Laverton North, Victoria allegedly linked to the criminal network.
On entering the storage facility in Laverton North a person of interest, a 57-year-old man was located. A bed, shelving and other household items were observed in the mezzanine level of the premises.
The man was arrested and charged by Victoria police with; trafficking cocaine, possessing cocaine and testosterone, possessing two imitation firearms, five prohibited weapons, and a controlled weapon, and dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime. He is due to appear in the Wyndham Magistrates Court on 02 December 2026
Officers also seized more than AUD $610,000 cash, over 38,700 illicit cigarettes, five watches, several electronic devices, Illicit drugs and equipment including peptides and steroids, and an assortment of weapons including four knuckle dusters, 13 prohibited flick knives, two high powered lasers, one ASP baton, two gel blaster handguns and one set of handcuffs.
Investigations remain ongoing.
Commander Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement Greg Dowse said this investigation demonstrates the ABF's ability to work with partner agencies to target not only illicit tobacco shipments, but the organised crime networks that sit behind them.
"Operation OLDTOWN has disrupted an alleged organised crime network involved in the importation of illicit tobacco and linked to broader criminal activity. Through intelligence-led enforcement and close collaboration with partner agencies, we have identified key individuals and targeted the network behind these offences," Commander Dowse said.
"Our focus is not just on seizing illicit tobacco, but on dismantling the criminal networks that profit from it. By targeting every stage of the supply chain, we are making it harder for organised crime groups to operate in Australia.
"A person of interest was observed to be living in the storage shed, with cash, drugs, weapons and tobacco– this demonstrates the length alleged criminals will go to evade our enforcement pressure and links across different crime types.
"Every seizure, arrest and cash seizure strikes at the profits that drive organised crime. Our message is clear: if you seek to profit from illicit tobacco, the ABF and its partners will identify your network, disrupt your operations and target the proceeds of your crimes."