SA Police raid 15 properties and seize up to $1 million worth of illegal tobacco in South Australia

A million dollars worth illegal product has gone up in smoke as the head of a special task force combating SA’s illicit tobacco war has provided a major update on Operation Eclipse’s latest raid.

Police have made the largest single retail seizure of tobacco products as part of a series of raids by task force Operation Eclipse.

The seizure was made at a Welland retail premise on Wednesday, as raids on a further 14 tobacconists, gift shops, and small supermarkets turned up $1 million worth of illicit tobacco products and over $8,000 in cash.

Police have made the largest single retail seizure of illicit tobacco products as part of intensive ongoing Operation Eclipse investigations. Picture: SA Police

The seizure was made at a Welland retail premises on Wednesday during raids on 15 tobacconists, candy and gift shops and small supermarkets. Picture: SA Police

Only two of the premises searched held a tobacco licence.

The product found in a shed behind the Welland premise is believed by police to be stocking other retail outlets in Adelaide’s western suburbs.

The December 11 raids were conducted by 80 police officers from across SAPOL, including the Serious and Organised Crime, Financial and Cybercrime and Major Crime Investigation branches.

This comes after Police Commissioner Grant Stevens revealed South Australia is the playing grounds of a war being waged by interstate organised crime syndicates who are pushing their way into the state’s illicit tobacco trade.

The Operation Eclipse taskforce led by Detective Chief Inspector Brett Featherby has made major breakthroughs and arrests since commencing work on September 15, searching 87 premises across the state, including 60 businesses and 27 residential properties.

Illicit tobacco product seized in Operation Eclipse raids. Picture: SA Police

One raid in November took an awkward turn when a legitimate courier showed up with pallets of illicit product from New South Wales.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Featherby said Operation Eclipse had succeeded in impacting the trade of illegal tobacco in SA.

“These investigations have further enhanced our knowledge of the operating model of the syndicate involved,” Mr Featherby said.

“We are continuing to receive excellent support from the public and have so far received 167 calls to Crime Stoppers with valuable intelligence information that is assisting us to disrupt the activities of the syndicates.”

Operation Eclipse has led to 22 arrests for offences including money laundering, blackmail, and arson, and has confiscated cash, firearms, vehicles and tobacco worth nearly $8 million.