Former Tasmanian Liberal minister Adam Brooks has been accused of illegally importing a specially designed belt featuring a hidden knife.
Brooks served in state parliament from 2010-19 in the northwest seat of Braddon and was re-elected in 2021 but stood down shortly after the election amid controversy.
The 47-year-old is facing a charge of importing a prohibited item into Australia in April, 2019.
Court documents state the item was a belt knife sold by the company Guard Dog Security.
It is alleged Brooks, who is expected to appear in Devonport Magistrates Court in April, breached the Customs Act 1901.
Brooks held several portfolios, including mining and building and construction, in 2016.
He resigned from parliament in 2019 after an Integrity Commission report was critical of his use of a business email while mining minister.
He ran at the 2021 poll but stepped down shortly after being elected following a campaign marred by allegations he used a false dating profile, something he denied.