AUSTRALIAN Tax Office staff have seized more than 120,000 tobacco plant seedlings during a raid at Eurobin.
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The crop could have had a potential excise value of more than $10 million, according to ATO deputy commissioner Michael Cranston.
ATO staff and police raided the property on Tuesday and seized more than 123,000 seedlings.
It has been illegal to grow tobacco in Australia since 2006.
Nearby Myrtleford once had a thriving tobacco growing industry until it was shut down.
There are no licensed commercial growers or dealers in Australia.
Mr Cranston said the seized seedlings were being grown in a large hot house at the Eurobin property.
“The illegal tobacco trade is not only harmful to people’s health but is harmful to the community through the loss of excise,” he said.
“Those who support the trade in illicit tobacco are putting money into the hands of organised criminals.
“We work closely with partner agencies to ensure we catch people doing the wrong thing and bring them to account.
“Those involved in illegal tobacco activity can expect to hear from us.”
Police and ATO staff previously raided a Eurobin property in 2008 and 2009 which had once had permission to grow the crop, and another property in 2010.
Mr Cranston urged people to contact police if they suspected someone was growing tobacco.
There have been no arrests and no charges yet laid over the incident.
