http://www.smh.com.au/national/canberra-diplomats-in-black-market-alcohol-and-tobacco-probe-20160510-goqg1m.html
Foreign diplomats based in Canberra are being investigated for their alleged involvement in the black market trade of alcohol and tobacco.
The Australian Border Force has confirmed it is investigating the alleged rorting of the special privileges that allow diplomats and foreign embassies to import duty free large quantities of alcohol and cigarettes.
Twice a year, eligible diplomats are able to import 500 litres of beer, 120 litres of spirits and 10,000 cigarettes for their personal use. Embassies and high commissions can import double those amounts for official use every six months.
It is illegal for embassies or diplomats to on-sell the alcohol and cigarettes without paying taxes to the Australian government.
Fairfax Media understands the Royal Embassy of Cambodia and the Unique International Duty Free store in Clayton in Melbourne’s outer south-east are two of the main targets of a six-month-long ABF probe.
It is suspected that large quantities of alcohol and tobacco ordered by embassy officials through Unique International were never delivered to the Canberra embassy or its staff.
Instead, the products remained at the store and were sold at retail prices in an alleged rort that is estimated to have netted up to $200,000.
Online video sharing site YouTube features long promotional documentaries on the Unique International store and its range of imported beverages, which have been produced by the local arm of the Cambodian Broadcasting Network.
Unique International owner Seng Taing told Fairfax Media he could not comment on the ABF investigation.
“You need to talk to the government in Canberra,” Mr Taing said.
A spokeswoman for the ABF said she could not discuss “ongoing investigations” but warned that diplomats found to be abusing their special entitlements could face “sanctions”.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it “is aware of allegations concerning some foreign embassies in Canberra regarding the inappropriate use of alcohol and tobacco diplomatic concessions”.
The Cambodian embassy did not respond to questions.
Fairfax Media understands that diplomats from the embassies of at least two other Asian countries are suspected of also being involved in the black market trade of alcohol and tobacco bought using duty free privileges.
It is just not foreign embassies and their staff using entitlements to import generous quantities of alcohol and tobacco – the Canberra office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has also recently been placing large orders.
While there is no suggestion the UNHCR’s imports have been sold on the black market, the refugee advocate would not discuss why it had been importing large amounts alcohol through a Canberra duty free supplier.
The UNHCR’s regional representative, Thomas Albrecht, does not have an entitlement for personal use. But the office of the UNHCR is able to import the same amount of duty free products as foreign embassies.
Mr Albrecht declined to respond to questions about the frequency and purpose of the UNHCR’s orders or discuss how they were being paid for.
Fairfax Media last month revealed how the Azerbaijan embassy had lodged official forms to import the maximum amount of alcohol and tobacco.
The ABF assessed allegations about the Azerbaijan embassy’s import requests and decided not to take action.
The embassy stated that just because it received approval to import maximum quantities it had not always ordered such big amounts.