A 42-year-old Christchurch man was sentenced today at the Christchurch District Court to three-years and four-months’ jail for his involvement in an illegal tobacco importing and manufacturing operation.

He 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 (CCA) and defrauding Customs of NZ$1.56 million in revenue.

The man was arrested on 24 June 2024, following a joint Customs and Police investigation into a burglary at a CCA in Christchurch. A man was seen on CCTV removing boxes described as tea from China but was suspected to contain loose tobacco.

Customs later identified the same man as the importer of the loose tobacco. A search warrant at his business address discovered a large-scale unlicensed tobacco manufacturing site.

Customs confiscated 423 kilograms of loose tobacco, 16,486 cigarettes, machinery used to manufacture individual cigarettes, boxes of cigarettes, cigarette branded labels, and almost NZ$2,500 in cash, as well as other items located at the search warrants.

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 estimates 740 kilograms of illicit tobacco has been seized, representing at least NZ$1.56 million in revenue evasion.

Acting Chief Customs Officer, Fraud and Prohibition, Bevan Cameron, says the size of the operation, the level of sophistication and the amount of tobacco involved make this one of the South Island’s most significant seizures.

“Criminal groups will attempt to smuggle illicit cigarettes through air, sea cargo and international mail. Whichever pathway they choose, Customs is actively looking for them and intends to find them.”

“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 dollars of potential revenue destined to pay for public services. He now faces jail.”

Anyone with information about suspicious activity can contact Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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