A 23-year-old has been put back on a flight to Kuala Lumpur after failing in his bid to smuggle 54 kilograms of molasses tobacco through Perth International Airport.

Australian Border Force officers uncovered 54 one kilogram packets of the undeclared tobacco in two suitcases and a backpack owned by the New Zealand national after he arrived from KL on Sunday.

The duty evaded on the tobacco was calculated at $58,122.90, plus close to $6,000 in GST.

Camera Icon ABF officers found the haul in two suitcases and a backpack. Credit: Australian Border Force

The haul was way above the allowance for tobacco being brought into Australia, which is 25 grams, plus an open packet, for each traveller over 18 years of age.

ABF regional commander for WA, Rod O’Donnell, said the man’s visa was cancelled and he was put on a flight to KL today.

“In this man’s case, he is now subject to a three year exclusion from applying for certain visas for Australia,” he said.

The ABF made more than 110,000 detections of illicit tobacco at the border in 2017-18.

That included close to 240 million cigarettes and 217 tonnes of tobacco, worth more than $356 million in evaded duty.