The state government’s crack down on illicit tobacco and vapes has seen 148 stores issued with three-month closure orders, including 13 in Central Queensland.
Some dealers allegedly posing as everything from pet shops to gift stores to hide their illicit trade.
As part of a 10-day blitz, codenamed Operation Major, more than 11.8 million cigarettes, 1.7 tonnes of loose tobacco, and 87,000 vapes, 4.2 litres of vaping liquid and 270,000 nicotine pouches have been seized.
The combined street value of the haul is estimated to be more than $15.7 million.
In the Central Queensland health region, 13 stores were hit with three-month closure orders, including Berserker Tobacconist, Dunya Stars (Tannum Sands Gift), Dunyia Market, East Street Tobacconist Rockhampton, Emerald Roll Smoke, Frenchville Gifts and Tobacconist, LTS Tobacco Station Biloela, R1 Tobacconist and Gifts, Rocky Tobacconist, Tobacco Shed Allenstown, Tobacco Shed Yeppoon, Urban Tobacconist, and Urban Tobacconist – Dawson Road.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls thanked Queensland Health’s public health units for ensuring the operation was a success and said the Crisafulli Government was making Queensland safer and keeping dangerous vapes and illegal tobacco out of the hands of Queensland kids.
“The Crisafulli Government’s tough new tobacco and vaping laws are undoing Labor’s decade of decline, during which criminals were allowed to set up these illegal operations in towns across the state,” Minister Nicholls said.
“In the first 10 days of these tough new laws taking effect, our public health officers, with the support of police, ruthlessly targeted these criminals selling illegal chop chop and dangeorus vapes.
“This historic action sends a clear message that Queensland will not tolerate businesses peddling illegal, addictive and dangerous vapes and tobacco in our community.”
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the Queensland Health and police operation had targeted organised crime syndicates behind the illicit tobacco trade.
“The efforts of both agencies have led to a significant disruption in the state’s illegal vape and tobacco black market after the Commonwealth failed to keep pace,” Minister Purdie said.
“This operation has stamped out more than 148 dodgy businesses who have no qualms in selling harmful products to our kids.”
Reporting breaches of Queensland’s smoking laws can be reported via the Queensland Health website or by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
