ASEAN, Australia launch Project Portcullis 2021 to tackle Illicit Tobacco

NATIONAL

In July, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia established Project Portcullis 2021, the ASEAN-Australia Task Force on Illicit Tobacco, to combat the smuggling of illicit tobacco in a month of action.

Throughout June, participating customs authorities shared intelligence information on tobacco consignments to support enhanced targeting opportunities, disruption efforts and enforcement actions across the ASEAN region and Australia.

The smuggling and sale of illicit tobacco is a global issue, with proceeds often being used by transnational organised criminal syndicates to fund other forms of criminal activities that impact our societies.

The collaboration has enabled customs authorities to apply scrutiny to an increased volume of suspicious sea cargo and land border consignments via the ‘Alert Notification System’ designed by ASEAN Customs Enforcement and Compliance Working Group (CECWG).

The operation aims to implement more effective countermeasures to disrupt the global supply of illicit tobacco and combat transnational organised crime. Collectively, the Task Force had detected the abuse of transhipment facilities to smuggle illicit tobacco. A comprehensive regional approach is needed to address these challenges to prevent ASEAN and Australia’s economic and health consequences.

Project Portcullis, which CECWG initiated, has proven to be highly effective. The month of action had more than 50 referrals and has led to the seizure of 19 million sticks of cigarettes smuggled into the region. The ASEAN Directors-General of Customs are committed to combatting Transnational Organised Crime and will apply similar techniques utilising the CECWG Task Force mechanism to disrupt borderrelated threats.

As one of ASEAN’s dialogue partners, Australia will continue to work cooperatively with ASEAN to implement effective countermeasures to disrupt organised crime in the region.

MGA welcomes the collaborative approach taken by ASEAN to combat the growing smuggling of illicit tobacco, especially into Australia. MGA continues to work with the Black Economy Task Force, the Illicit Tobacco Industry Group and with Federal Ministers and State Police Ministers to address this insidious and disruptive issue that costs members millions of dollars in lost sales annually.

Please use the links below to report any illegal tobacco sales in your area or contact the MGA National Support Office George Kovits on 1800 888 479 for assistance. » ATO :https://www.ato.gov.au/ general/gen/making-a-tip-off/ » ABF : https://www.abf.gov. au/about-us/what-we-do/ borderwatch

Source ABF Press Release