A 50 year old man in Tonga has been charged with importing tobacco without health warnings and labels after a container with 288 cartons were seized.
The arrest was made as a result of a joint investigation between local authorities and the Australian Federal Police.
The investigation focused on the trade of illegal tobacco, falsifying invoices and tax evasion.
Police say the investigation is continuing as it appears linked to other international cases and more charges may follow.
They say with increased taxes on tobacco, Tonga and other Pacific countries are being targeted by transnational and organised criminal groups.
