In a focused crackdown on illegal tobacco activities, four individuals have been charged, and authorities have confiscated $2.3 million worth of illegal tobacco on the Far North Coast of New South Wales.
The operation was a collaborative effort involving NSW Police, NSW Health, and the Australian Border Force’s Illicit Tobacco Task Force. This coordinated initiative resulted in the seizure of over 18,000 vaping products, 1.9 million illicit cigarettes, 74 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco, and five unregistered firearms.
The enforcement action was conducted over the course of a week, concluding yesterday in Mullumbimby.
On Wednesday morning, law enforcement officials apprehended a 27-year-old man at a local storage facility.
This arrest was followed by the execution of search warrants across three storage units and two residential properties in Mullumbimby.
During these searches, authorities discovered and confiscated over 17,000 vapes, more than 1.8 million illegal cigarettes, and 63 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco.
At the two homes, five unregistered firearms, $40,000 cash, mobile phones, electronic equipment and assorted illicit cigarettes and vapes were seized
Two men, aged 24 and 41, were arrested at the two Mullumbimby homes.
The 24-year-old and 27-year-old men were each charged with vape possession, dealing with the proceeds of crime, and participating in a criminal group.
They were bailed and will appear in court on November 24.
The 41-year-old man was charged with five counts of possessing an unregistered gun.
He was bailed and will appear in court on December 3.
About 5pm that day, a 40-year-old woman was arrested after attending Byron Bay Police Station.
She was charged with vape possession, dealing with the proceeds of crime, and participating in a criminal group.
She was bailed and will appear in court on November 24.
NSW Health inspectors, together with NSW Police, carried out subsequent inspections of a Byron Bay tobacconist and a Tweed Heads convenience store, allegedly seizing more than 1600 vapes, more than 89,000 illicit cigarettes and about 11.5kg of loose-leaf tobacco.
These inspections resulted in the seizure of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes with an estimated street value of $2.35 million, police claim.
