JAKARTA, 5 November 2020 – Customs officials from ASEAN and Australia agreed to promote joint forces to tackle illicit tobacco issues in the region through strengthened collaboration.

The agreement took place during a virtual workshop on 3-5 November hosted by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and supported by the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation.

In his officiating remarks, Chairperson of the ASEAN Customs Enforcement and Compliance Working Group (CECWG) Sazali Mohamad underlined the importance of the activity, which is the first ever joint Task Force operation conducted by ASEAN and a Dialogue Partner.

He also highlighted that illicit tobacco poses a major economic issue in the region. In the past more than 50% of cigarettes in the market are illicit, causing billions of dollars of loss in revenue.

ABF Commander Greg Linsdell, Lead of Australia’s Illicit Tobacco Taskforce,  highlighted that organised crime networks are known to use many different methods to smuggle illicit tobacco across borders.

The proceeds from illicit tobacco are known to fund other illegal activities, harming communities in the region.

Participants of the workshop noted that tobacco smuggling is detected through mail, air cargo and sea cargo, and even carried in large personal shipments by passengers. There are also examples of bulk movements of illicit tobacco in containerised cargo moving throughout the region. Strengthened cooperation between customs authorities across ASEAN and Australia aims to tackle the issue.

The Task Force will commence its works in 2021.