An international tobacco-smuggling syndicate has been smashed with the seizure of more than 12 tonnes of tobacco and two million cigarettes in Sydney.

Director of New South Wales customs investigations Doug Nicoll said 50 customs officers and police had allegedly intercepted five sea cargo containers at Port Botany in Sydney's east during a two-month operation. Nine Sydney men have been charged over the haul.
The amount of duty and tax evaded was reported to amount to more than A$ 5 million (US$ 3.9 million). "The undeclared cigarettes and tobacco had been shipped from China and Indonesia,'' said Nicoll. Customs seized documents after raiding 22 commercial and residential premises, mainly in southwest Sydney. (pi)