The multi-agency Illicit Tobacco Taskforce made the bust over a two-day blitz where three illegal growing operations were uncovered, sidestepping more than $84 million in tax.

More than 183 tonnes of illicit tobacco was seized and destroyed at a Kyalite property in regional NSW after officers from the Australian Taxation Office, Australian Border Force and NSW Police located the 65-acre crop.

Victoria police teamed up with ATO officers that same day to investigate a 29.3-acre illegal tobacco crop in Beverford, seizing and destroying a further 183 tonnes of the crop and 140 kilograms of processed tobacco bales.

The illegal product was estimated to have dodged as much as $36.3 million in tax.

The following day on March 4, the ATO and Victoria Police officers uncovered a 13-acre crop of illicit tobacco at a property in Vinifera where 60.7 tonnes of the product was seized and destroyed.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Ian Read said the raids made for one of the biggest weeks in disrupting illicit tobacco growing operations in Australia.

"Tobacco growing operations are not run by small producers or farmers," he said.

"They are run by organised crime syndicates who deliberately engage in illegal activities to fund their extravagant lifestyles and other criminal activity."

Mr Read explained the process was not a victimless crime, "significantly depriving" the community of taxes needed to fund things such as roads, schools and hospitals.

"I urge people to keep reporting any activity they suspect may involve the production of illicit tobacco," he said.

"Public tip-offs build on the intelligence we gather from a range of sources and help us to identify, seize and destroy these illicit crops before they are harvested and sold on the black market.

"Signs to look out for include intense labour production between November and May, suspicious enquiries about land for lease, unexplained use of water resources and large crops of leafy plants that resemble kale, cabbage or corn and may have a pink flower growing on top."

If you suspect that illegal tobacco is being grown in your community you can confidentially report it online at ato.gov.au/illicittobacco or by calling 1800 060 062.

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