Two men have been charged after police allegedly seized more than $1 million worth of illicit cigarettes and tobacco during a vehicle stop near Moree early Tuesday morning.
Officers attached to New England Police District were conducting patrols about 2.15am on Tuesday, 19 May, when they stopped a utility vehicle on the Newell Highway for roadside testing.
The 19-year-old driver returned a negative roadside breath test.
Police then searched the vehicle and allegedly found 434,600 illicit cigarettes packed inside 37 boxes, along with 11 garbage bags containing about 60kg of dried tobacco leaf and $1,620 in cash.
The driver and his 18-year-old passenger were arrested and taken to Moree Police Station.
The older man was charged with:
- recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime greater than $5.000, and
- recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime less than or equal to $5.000.
The younger man was charged with recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime greater than $5,000.
Both men were refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 5 on Tuesday.
NSW Police have released images of the seized items.
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