Customs nabs smuggled tobacco in Vic

Customs officers have smoked out more than 300,000 smuggled cigarettes and almost two tonnes of illicit molasses tobacco in Melbourne.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service officials used X-ray equipment to find the massive haul at its Melbourne container examination centre which they say should have attracted about $1 million in duty.

About 100 cardboard boxes filled with the illicit cigarettes and 1866kg of molasses tobacco were found among household goods including blankets, plastic ware and ornaments.

Customs national cargo operations manager Jagtej Singh on Friday said the tobacco is illegal because import duties had not been paid.

The agency seized 183 tonnes of smuggled tobacco and 200 million cigarettes in 76 separate seizures last financial year, which represented a potential $151 million in unpaid duties.

The maximum penalty for tobacco smuggling is 10 years' jail or a fine of up to five times the amount of duty evaded.