A Christchurch man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for his involvement in the illegal importation and manufacture of tobacco products.
The raw ingredients were brought into New Zealand disguised as loose tea leaves from China.
The 42-year-old was found guilty of nine charges, including the unlicensed manufacture of tobacco products, burglary, possession of uncustomed goods, removal of goods from a Customs Controlled Area, and defrauding Customs of $1.56 million in revenue.
Today, he was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court to three years and four months in prison.
The man was arrested on June 24, 2024, following a joint Customs and police investigation into a burglary at a Customs Controlled Area in the city. CCTV footage showed a man removing boxes described as tea from China but was suspected to contain loose tobacco, the New Zealand Customs Service said.
Customs later identified the man as an importer of loose tobacco.
A search of his business discovered a large-scale unlicensed tobacco manufacturing site.
Among the items confiscated by Customs include 423 kilograms of loose tobacco; 16,486 cigarettes; machinery used to manufacture individual cigarettes; boxes of cigarettes; cigarette branded labels; and almost $2500 in cash.
A further 317 kilograms of loose tobacco, destined for the unlicensed business, and 9000 cigarettes were seized at the border in August 2024.
In total, Customs seized an estimated 740 kilograms of illicit tobacco, representing at least $1.56 million in revenue evasion.
Acting Chief Customs Officer, Fraud and Prohibition, Bevan Cameron, said the size of the operation, the level of sophistication and the amount of tobacco involved made this one of the South Island’s most significant seizures.
“Offenders need to know they will face consequences if they choose to trade in the illicit tobacco market. This man thought he was beyond the reach of the law and tried to evade NZ$1.56 million of potential revenue destined to pay for public services. He now faces jail.”
Anyone with information about suspicious activity could contact Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
