Vic man had 46,000 cigarettes at airport

A Victorian man who had just flown in from China allegedly had $20,000 worth of cigarettes in his bags when he was stopped at Melbourne Airport.

A Victorian man has allegedly been found with 46,000 cigarettes in his bags at Melbourne Airport. (AAP)

A Victorian man has allegedly been found with 46,000 cigarettes in his bags at Melbourne Airport.

The 48-year-old man had flown in from China on Friday and an x-ray of his bags revealed the undeclared cigarettes with a black market value of $20,000, border officials say.

The maximum penalty for tobacco smuggling is up to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine up to five times the amount of the duty evaded.