PENINSULA-FRANKSTON-GREATER DANDENONG CASEY-CARDINIA EDITION
Melbourne
Observer
MORNINGTON PENINSULA • SOUTHERN PENINSULA • WESTERN PORT • FRANKSTON • CASEY • CARDINIA • DANDENONG
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
PAUL’S FENCING
ILLICIT TOBACCO RAID AT KEYSBOROUGH
Crib Point man on sex assault charges
Pensioner Discount Applies
■ Frankston Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives have arrested and charged a male in relation to four alleged separate sexual assault incidents, across the Mornington Peninsula, during January and February. The first incident occurred on The Boulevard in Somers on January 22 about 10.30am. The second incident occurred on Tasman Rd in Somers on January 31 about 6.10pm. The third incident occurred on Peterson St in Crib Point on February 1 about 5pm. The fourth incident occurred on Sandy Point Rd in Balnarring on February 13 about 5pm. In each of the incidents it is alleged the male approached the victim and struck them on the backside, before fleeing the scene on his bike. A 17-year-old male from Crib Point has been charged with five counts of sexual assault. He has been bailed to appear at a children's court at a later date.
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● Commander Penny Spies from the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce. Photo: ABC. ■ Police have charged a man and seized illicit As part of the investigation, the ABF intertobacco and vapes valued at approximately cepted 10 million cigarettes in Victoria after ar$150,000 as part of an ongoing investigation into riving on a sea cargo ship from Vietnam on a criminal syndicate alleged to be involved in February 3. large scale illicit tobacco importation. That illicit tobacco had an estimated value of Three warrants were executed at a tobacco approximately $15 million. store and a storage facility in Keysborough, as Along with the 35-year-old Truganina man, well as a residential property in Truganina on a 45-year-old Point Cook man, a 35-year-old Wednesday (Mar. 13). Fraser Rise man, a 31-year-old Altona MeadA range of items were seized from the ad- ows man, a 35-year-old Craigieburn man and a dresses including several hundred packets and 40-year-old Tarneit man were all arrested and cartons of cigarettes, 1000 nicotine pouches, subsequently charged with a range of offences. 10kg of loose tobacco and over 1000 vapes, as They will next appear in Melbourne Magiswell as a quantity of cash receipts and a ledger trates’ Court on July 9 and the investigation rebook. mains ongoing. A 35-year-old Truganina man was arrested The Point Cook man and Fraser Rise man and subsequently charged with possessing to- were both charged with: bacco products with intent to defraud the rev- ■ Conspiracy import tobacco products with enue and commit an indicatable offence whilst the intention ofto defrauding the revenue on bail. Truganina man, Altona Meadows man, The man had previously been arrested and andThe Craigieburn man were charged with: charged in relation to this investigation. He faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on ■ Aid, abet, counsel or procure the importaMarch 14 and has been bailed to appear again tion of tobacco products with the intention of defrauding the revenue. on July 9. The Tarneit man was charged with: The arrest and seizures form part of Operation Tyers, a 17-month Victorian Joint ■ Dealing with proceeds of crime etc.--money Organised Crime Taskforce investigation in- or property worth $50,000 or more. volving members from Victoria Police and the ■ Fail to comply with an order under the Crimes Australian Federal Police along with seconded Act. ABF Commander Penny Spies said: “The members of the Australian Border Force Illicit ABF is targeting and seizing record levels of Tobacco Taskforce. Last month six men were arrested in illicit tobacco at the border, demonstrating our Melbourne as part of the investigation and it is commitment to tackling the illegal importation alleged some of the men work for freight and of tobacco, and making the Australian border a transport logistics companies in trusted positions. hostile environment for those seeking to conIt is alleged several of the men have links to duct criminal behaviour.” “Working with our law enforcement partners a Melbourne-based Middle Eastern organised crime syndicate, suspected of being behind a such as the Victoria Police and with the AFP is critical to tackling the organised crime that is series of illicit tobacco imports into Victoria. It is also alleged two of the men had access profiting from the importation and supply of ilto internal shipping and transport systems and licit tobacco in Australia.” AFPDetective Acting Superintendent David attempted to manipulate data relating to the illicit tobacco consignment to evade law enforce- MacGregor said: “The AFP, together with our ment detection. State and Commonwealth partnerships are key Search warrants were also executed on to dismantling organised crime groups who atFebruary 27 at a number of businesses and tempt to profit from the importation of illicit comhomes in Melbourne’s western suburbs. modities into Australia.
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