Massive seizures, business closures in Mackay smoking product raids

In a huge crackdown on illegal tobacco and vaping products, five unlicensed tobacconists have been shut down and massive amounts of illicit goods have been seized.

Hundreds of thousands of cigarettes and thousands of vapes have been seized as five businesses faced forced closures over the selling of illegal tobacco products.

Huge quantities of illegal tobacco products have been seized as unlicensed businesses across Mackay are caught up in a massive crack down on smoking and vaping products.

The Mackay Public Health Unit, a division of Mackay Hospital and Health Service, has forced five unlicensed tobacconists to shut over the past three weeks, with another three found also selling illicit tobacco and vapes.

Almost 40kg of chop chop has been confiscated in the latest seizures in Mackay.

MHHS director of public health Brigid Fenech said the raids conducted from since March 20, 2025 sent a clear message that “illegal tobacco sales will not be tolerated in the community”.

“Our public health officers will continue to be vigilant to ensure retailers of tobacco, vapes and other smoking products comply with the law,” Ms Fenech said.

Raids and searches executed alongside police yielded almost 40kg of chop chop (loose tobacco), 1620 illegal vapes, 132,941 illegal cigarettes, including clear packaging cigarettes, 475 bongs and 208 ice pipes.

1620 vapes were also seized from eight unlicensed businesses across Mackay city.

Also found were vape liquid refills and the stores were then hit with on-the-spot fines and closures lasted for at least 72 hours.

Under new legislation which came into effect in September 2024, retailers can face up to two years imprisonment and employees may be fined up to $32,000.

If they are found to be working in a store supplying smoking products during the closure order period.

Since the establishment of the illicit tobacco taskforce in 2018 there have been 177 seizures across Australia, almost 480,000 kilograms of tobacco destroyed including 27 million cigarettes for an estimated excise duty of $740m.

There have been 30 convictions country-wide in related to supplying illicit tobacco since 2018.