Police seize $1.5 million tobacco shipment at Monteith
Plus an alleged heroin trafficker is arrested at Tailem Bend, and where you'll find speed cameras around the Murraylands this week.
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Police have seized $1.5 million worth of black market tobacco during a highway sting in the Murraylands.
Officers from SA Police’s heavy vehicle squad intercepted a truck at Monteith last Tuesday.
Inside they allegedly found six pallets of illicit tobacco products being transported into South Australia from the eastern states.
Officers seized the truck and took it to a police compound at Ottoway for inspection.
The sting formed part of the ongoing Operation Eclipse, which aims to disrupt the black market trade in cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Police descended on tobacco retailers around the Murraylands only a few weeks ago to check that they were complying with their licences, and made several similar highway seizures late last year.
Detective Chief Inspector Tim Rasch, the officer in charge of SAPOL’s serious crime task force, said organised crime groups were behind most underground tobacco trade.
“These recent seizures clearly show that the organised crime syndicates are still active in the South Australian community,” he said.
“SA Police will continue to investigate any information that may lead to the identity of the people involved in this illegal activity, and will continue to ensure that people are held accountable where sufficient evidence exists for a prosecution.”
Anyone with information about the illicit tobacco trade should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestopperssa.com.au,anonymously if needed.
Melbourne man arrested at Tailem Bend,charged with drug trafficking
Meanwhile, Australian Federal Police have revealed that they are investigating a man who was arrested at Tailem Bend last month for his alleged involvement in the drug smuggling trade.
SA Police allegedly found an amount of heroin in the 20-year-old’s car on January 9.
They arrested him and charged him with trafficking, alleging that he was on his way back to Melbourne to sell the drugs.
The arrest came after a tip-off from federal authorities, who had identified the man in connection with an investigation intodrug smugglers who allegedly bribed government officials and/or had double agents on the inside of government agencies.
Watch out for speed cameras
Finally, SA Police have warned that they are deploying speed cameras at several locations around the Murraylands this week:
- Murray Bridge: Adelaide Road, Mannum Road, Mulgundawah Road, Old Swanport Road, Swanport Road
- Murray Bridge East: Old Princes Highway
- Tailem Bend: Dukes Highway, Kulde Road, Mallee Highway, Princes Highway, Railway Terrace
- Wellington: Langhorne Creek Road
Correction: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect date for the tobacco bust.
