Police & Court

Police swoop on stashed cash and smoking products

By Bree Harding

Oct 30, 2025

Taskforce Lunar detectives arrested a Kialla man and seized around $350,000 of hidden and buried cash on Thursday.

A 61-year-old Kialla man is expected to be charged on summons with Commonwealth money laundering offences after two search warrants were executed at a residential Kialla address and a tobacco store in Shepparton on Thursday, October 30.

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Taskforce Lunar detectives arrested the man and seized around $350,000 of hidden and buried cash, over 72,000 illicit cigarettes, 6kg of loose-leaf tobacco and more than 450 vapes as part of an investigation into money laundering linked to the illicit tobacco industry.

The search warrants were executed with help from Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit.

From the Kialla property, police seized three firearms, ammunition, around 8800 illicit cigarettes (an estimated tax evasion of more than $13,112), around $50,000 cash that was hidden in a toilet cistern and around $300,000 cash that was buried in a container in the back garden.

From the tobacco and convenience store, around 63,520 illicit cigarettes (an estimated tax evasion of $94,644), around 6kg of loose-leaf tobacco (an estimated tax evasion of $12,842) and 456 vapes worth about $18, 240 were seized.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppers.com.au