Rosewater tobacco shop manager Sophie Amanda Elsom-Tucker faces court on money laundering charges

An Adelaide teenager arrested in the police crackdown on the tobacco trade has faced court for the first time.

The teenage manager of an Adelaide tobacco shop laundered more than $30,000 in the form of cash, cigarettes, vapes and tobacco, a court has heard.

Sophie Amanda Elsom-Tucker, 18, who police said was a manager at ASG Smokes and Gifts in Rosewater, has made her first court appearance after being arrested during a police raid in the wake of an attempted arson attack on the store.

She is facing two charges of money laundering.

On Tuesday, prosecution said the case was part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal tobacco trade in South Australia.

Ms Elsom-Tucker was arrested last month after an attempted arson attack on the store led police to allegedly find meth pipes and bongs for sale at the premises.

Rosewater tobacco shop manager Sophie Amanda Elsom-Tucker leaves Port Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: Natalie Vikhrov

The 18-year-old was initially charged with selling equipment for use or preparation of a controlled drug and money laundering.

Court documents obtained by The Advertiser now show she has been charged with two counts of money laundering. No pleas have been entered.

They allege she “directly or indirectly” engaged in a “transaction involving property namely, cash, cigarettes, vapes and tobacco of the value of more than $30,000, that she knew to be tainted property”.

She has also been accused of involvement in laundering between $2500 and $30,000 cash.

Both of the alleged offences occurred on October 14 at Rosewater.

Separately, police have made more than a dozen arrests in the past month after 15 shops and four vehicles were hit with arson attacks related to the sale of illicit tobacco. The stores or their employees aren’t accused of wrongdoing.

Ms Elsom-Tucker will return to court next year on continuing bail.