Customs drag for smokers

EIGHT Chinese nationals have been detained and will be removed from Australia after being stopped at Melbourne Airport with large amounts of illicit tobacco.

The group arrived in Melbourne on a flight from Hong Kong on Monday with 177,063 cigarettes hidden in their luggage, amounting to more than $160,000 in evaded duty.

The eight travellers had their visas cancelled by Australian Border Force officers and were taken to the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation pending their removal from Australia.