A 62-year-old Berowra Heights man, employed as a licensed post office manager, has been charged following a joint-agency investigation into the alleged importation of illicit tobacco and vapes.

The arrest comes after detectives from the Multi Agency Strike Team (MAST) established Strike Force Kerani in June 2026. The investigation, supported by Australia Post, examined the alleged exploitation of the man’s senior postal role in Sydney’s north to facilitate the smuggling of contraband into the country.

On Tuesday, 13 October, investigators executed a search warrant at a property in Berowra Heights, alongside subsequent warrants and a vehicle stop in Zetland and Banksmeadow.
During the raids, police seized more than 3.3 million sticks of illicit tobacco, 14,040 vapes, 9,049 tobacco tin pouches, 648 sachets of rolling tobacco, electronic devices, and $60,470 in cash.

The Berowra Heights man was arrested locally and charged with possessing commercial quantities of vaping goods and tobacco. He appeared before Hornsby Local Court on Tuesday, where he was granted conditional bail. He is scheduled to reappear at the same court on Wednesday, 18 November 2026.

Two 36-year-old men were also arrested in Banksmeadow and are facing similar commercial possession and proceeds of crime charges.
NSW Police Force State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Watson, noted that organised crime networks rely heavily on “trusted insiders” to bypass border security and facilitate their operations.

“The illicit tobacco and vape market remain a lucrative revenue stream for organised crime syndicates operating across Australia,” Detective Superintendent Watson said. “Those profits often fund other serious criminal activities, which is why identifying and disrupting the people who help these networks operate is a key priority for police.”