Where illicit, illegal tobacco and vapes are being sold under the counter on the Gold Coast

Vapes and cigarettes are allegedly being sold in all kinds of retail outlets – and even by rideshare drivers – as the market in illicit tobacco products explodes. SEE WHERE

Vapes and cigarettes are being sold under the counter in butchers, fruit shops and in rideshare cars as the Gold Coast’s illicit tobacco problem explodes.

The sales are part of a $1bn racket exposed by the Bulletin in November. Authorities say it is largely organised by crime syndicates.

One source told the Bulletin they were sold a packet of 20 Double Happiness cigarettes for $20 – about half the normal retail price – at a Surfers Paradise outlet.

“I went to pick up a couple of smokes,” he said. “I went into the shop and asked, what’s not going to cost me 50 bucks a packet and he said ‘try these’.

“He reached into a drawer and pulled out Chinese cigarettes.”

The Double Happiness cigarettes sold in Surfers Paradise.

The Chinese Double Happiness brand is one of several commonly smuggled into Australia.

The cigarettes sold in Surfers Paradise were not in plain packaging as mandated by Australian law.

The man said having smoked the cigarettes, he would not buy them again.

“They’re pretty rough,” he said. “I know smoking’s not good for you, but on the occasions I do smoke, I’d rather know they’re not treated with all sorts of unregulated chemicals or god knows what else.”

Another person told the Bulletin they were stunned to be offered vapes for sale while taking an Uber home from a night out on the Gold Coast.

“He (the driver) even had a little LED sign in his car that he put on and it said ‘Vapes available here’,” they said.

“We had had a few drinks, we were in the Uber, we were laughing and sharing a couple of jokes.

“He said you look like the kind of crowd I could show this to and he just flicked the sign on.

“In his glovebox were probably 40 vapes lined up. He was selling them from 30 bucks.”

Vapes were allegedly offered for sale to passengers of an Uber car on the Gold Coast. Picture: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images.

Sources also told the Bulletin about butchers and fruit shops where vapes and illicit tobacco products were available.

An ATO spokesperson told the Bulletin the federal government was estimated to be losing almost $1bn a year due to illegal tobacco trading.

The spokesperson said much of the activity was funded by organised crime syndicates.

To date, there have been no successful prosecutions of any Gold Coast retailers in relation to illegal tobacco trading.

An Uber spokesperson told the Bulletin the company did not tolerate illegal or unsafe activity and encouraged users to report any such incidents.

“As stated in our Community Guidelines, any behaviour involving illegal or unsafe activity while using Uber can result in immediate loss of access to the platform,” the spokesperson said.

“We encourage all users to rate their ride and share feedback, to enable us pinpoint issues that can help keep the Uber community safe, respectful and enjoyable for everyone.”

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Originally published as Where illicit, illegal tobacco and vapes are being sold under the counter on the Gold Coast