MGA Independent Retailer Issue 5 September 2021

Page 44

44

INDUSTRY NEWS

NATIONAL

Cigarette smuggler sentenced to jail A 64-year-old NSW man has been sentenced to imprisonment of 21 months to be served by way of Intensive Corrections Order after pleading guilty to tobacco smuggling offences contrary to the Customs Act 1901. On 19 May 2020, the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF) investigations identified the sea cargo container, which contained approximately 10 million illegally imported cigarettes destined for an address in Sydney. On receipt of the goods, the man was arrested and charged with tobacco smuggling offences under section 233BABAD of the Customs Act 1901 after accessing the container. The man pleaded guilty to smuggling tobacco on 5 February 2021 and on 5 August 2021, was sentenced in the Downing Centre District Court to imprisonment of 21 months to be served by way of Intensive Corrections Order. In addition to the standard conditions, the man is to complete 200 hours of community service and is to participate in a program to address his gambling problem. In addition, the AFP-led multi-agency Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) obtained restraining orders over $3.25m of assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth). ABF Commander Special Investigations Greg Linsdell said the ITTF is committed to stopping criminal groups from profiting from importing and selling illicit tobacco. “We know organised criminal groups use the profits from the sale of illegal tobacco to fund other illegal activities,” he said. “ABF officers have the tools, technology

mga.asn.au | September 2021 | Edition 5

and expertise to detect attempts to import illicit tobacco and ensure people engaging in this criminal activity will face the full force of the law.” MGA is a member of the Illicit Tobacco Industry Group (ITIG), working closely with other retailing organisations and the Australian Border Force and ATO to share information and develop measures to combat the illicit tobacco trade. This illegal trade costs retailers millions of dollars in lost sales. As reported in the KPMG 2020 Report on Illicit Tobacco in Australia, it has cost the government an estimated AUD 2.9 billion in lost excise. Money which could have gone back into infrastructures such as hospitals and schools.

Penalties for selling illicit tobacco products include: • criminal penalty – this is a criminal conviction with a prison sentence of up to five years or at least a $222,000 fine or both.

Penalties for buying illicit tobacco products include: • criminal penalty – this is a criminal conviction with a prison sentence of up to five years or at least a $222,000 fine or both.

Penalties for manufacturing or producing illicit tobacco include:

There are large penalties for stocking, buying, or selling illegal tobacco products

• criminal penalty – this is a criminal

Penalties for possessing more than two and less than five kilograms of illicit tobacco include:

MGA encourages all members to report any illegal sales activity that they are aware of anonymously to

• civil penalty – this is a Penalty

Infringement Notice of at least $44,000.

Penalties for possessing over five kilograms of illicit tobacco include: • criminal penalty – this is a criminal conviction with a prison sentence of up to five years or at least a $222,000 fine or both.

conviction with a prison sentence of up to 10 years or at least a $333,000 fine or both

Australian Border Watch www.border.gov.au/borderwatch Australian Tax Office www.ato.gov.au/general/gen/making-atip-off/ Or contact MGA national hotline 1800 888 479 or email admin@mga.asn.au


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Articles inside

Kulara Estate’s Rare Penny extends collection with three new varietals

2min
pages 57-60

Welcome to our new corporate partner – Till Payments

2min
pages 54-56

Is my store at risk of a ransom attack?

2min
pages 52-53

MGA TMA Report to members

1min
page 51

The importance of weights measurements and labelling

5min
pages 48-50

FoodWorks takes recycling seriously

2min
pages 46-47

Cigarette smuggler sentenced to jail

2min
page 44

Peter Filipovic CEO CUB retires after 25 years

1min
page 45

South Australian Tobacco Control Strategy 2021-25

2min
page 43

Illicit Tobacco - Queensland

3min
pages 41-42

Western Downs stores looking to improve sustainability

4min
pages 38-39

Western Australia - Commercial Tenant Act Review

1min
page 40

How to get ready for WA’s single-use plastics ban

2min
page 37

Why MGA membership is crucial to my business

2min
page 34

Sustainability a pillar for success at Foodland

2min
page 36

The MGA board announces MiPlanet

2min
page 35

Metcash reports a 10% increase in supermarket sales

2min
page 33

QR Codes mandatory for supermarkets

2min
page 32

NSW COVID-19 Small Business Treasury Economic Recovery Group

1min
page 27

COSBOA Small Business COVID Recovery Round Table meeting

1min
page 22

Payroll tax in Australia

2min
page 24

COVID-19 lockdowns and movement restrictions

2min
page 23

Temporary visa workers and labour shortages

2min
page 26

COVID-19 support for lockdowns

2min
page 25

COVID-19 Vaccinations – join ‘The Vaccination Movement’

3min
pages 19-21

Marie Brown MGA’s National Legal Counsel retires

1min
page 18

Employsure - The Full Federal Court has unanimously upheld an appeal by the ACCC

3min
page 15

RBA conducts retail payments regulation review

3min
pages 6-7

Fair Work Act 2009: New National Employment Standard for offering casual conversion

4min
pages 10-11

CEO Welcome

2min
page 5

No Jab, No Job?

4min
pages 8-9

Unfair Dismissals - The recent statistics and how to defend a

2min
page 14

Part-time flexibility provisions in the GRA MGA advocating for our members

2min
pages 12-13
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