Auckland businessman Mosese Vakapuna has been sentenced to 28 months in jail for smuggling over 6000 kilograms of loose tobacco into New Zealand from Tonga, evading more than $10.3 million in import and excise taxes.
Vakapuna was convicted on 23 charges related to defrauding Customs revenue. The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Constrictor’ uncovered multiple shipments over a 21-month period, indicating the tobacco was intended for sale, particularly within Pasifika communities.
The operation identified a total of 23 imports sent to the company over a 21-month period.
Vakapuna was arrested on his arrival into New Zealand from Tonga on November 4 2022.
Image credit: Pascal Meier
Sorry, only the government are allowed to import cancerous chemicals into NZ 💉
So someone imports a large amount of carcinogenic tobacco, but what concerns officials is the tax.
Income tax/GST/Import taxes/petrol excise/alcohol excise/tobacco excise/car registration/dog registration/ rates and that is just off the top of my head