Australia holds man over N Korea tobacco smuggling

Australia has detained a man suspected of attempting to smuggle tobacco from North Korea into the country. The man was apprehended at a port in Melbourne as he tried to bring in a large shipment of cigarettes from the reclusive state.

The Australian Border Force confirmed that the man has been taken into custody pending further investigation. It is believed that he was part of a larger criminal syndicate involved in the illegal tobacco trade.

Authorities are concerned about the links between such smuggling activities and the regime in North Korea, which has been under strict sanctions for its nuclear weapons program. The Australian government has pledged to crack down on any attempts to circumvent these sanctions and has called for international cooperation in tackling illicit trade with the rogue state.