Motueka raids uncover big stash of illicit tobacco

Police and Customs officers have seized large amounts of cash and illicit tobacco during raids in the Motueka area.

New Zealand Customs fraud spokesman Terry Brown said three searches on Tuesday targeted suspected manufacturers and distributors of significant quantities of illicit manufactured and leaf tobacco.

The amount of tobacco seized was unknown, but Mr Brown said it was transported out of the area in "truckloads".

"There's certainly in excess of a 100kg of processed tobacco, which would equate to an excise revenue evasion of around about $35,000," Mr Brown said. It is illegal to process tobacco for commercial purposes without a licence.

The raids were the first since 2002, when Customs seized $90,000 worth of leaf from Motueka farms.

Mr Brown said the searches were mainly in the Motueka Valley.

No arrests were made. However investigations would continue and prosecutions were likely in the near future, Mr Brown said.

Alleged offenders can be charged with evading or defrauding Customs revenue, which can lead to imprisonment.

- NZPA