Tonga destroys illegal cigarettes arrived from Australia

Tonga will start burning about four millions of illegally imported cigarettes from Australia tomorrow Saturday 27.

The Minister of Custom and Inland Revenues Hon Tevita Lavemaau told Parliament on Wednesday the Ministry will burn the cigarettes at Tapuhia waste management facility.

He said this would be a public demonstration and media were invited to attend.

In June 2015 a 50-year-old Tongan who lived in Australia appeared in court after he was charged with importing tobacco with health warnings and labels that did not comply with font size requirement.

Tongan Police seized the container with 288 cartons.

The court was told there was trade of illegal tobacco, falsifying invoices and tax evasion.

The seizure was made as a result of a joint investigation between local authorities and the Australian Federal Police.

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