ATO, police and Queensland Health work together in Sunshine Coast raid

A raid across three Sunshine Coast businesses and a storage facility has resulted in three arrests and hundreds of thousands of items seized.

Three people have been charged following an interagency raid that uncovered alleged illegal tobacco, cigarettes and vape products in businesses across the Sunshine Coast.

Australian Taxation Office, Queensland Police and Queensland Health officers searched three tobacconists in Maroochydore, Dicky Beach and Currimundi and a storage facility in Maroochydore earlier this week.

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The tax office seized more than 270,000 cigarettes and 33kg of loose leaf tobacco.

Queensland Health officers also seized more than 9000 illegal vape products.

Queensland Police charged a Caboolture man, 54, and Caboolture woman, 36, with two counts of possession of tobacco 5kg or above, four counts of selling or supplying tobacco products in non-compliant retail packaging and two counts of receiving tainted property.

A 49-year-old Manly West woman was charged with one count each of selling or supplying tobacco products in non-compliant retail packaging and receiving tainted property.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Jade Hawkins said retailers who chose to become involved in the sale of illegal tobacco gained an unfair price advantage over honest businesses that did the right thing.

“The ATO is committed to disrupting those who produce and supply illicit tobacco for sale in the shadow economy in Australia,” she said.

The deputy commissioner said people and businesses that participated in the “shadow economy” reduced the funds available for essential community services and that it was estimated to cost the economy about $8 billion a year.

A Queensland Health spokesperson said that nicotine vaping products were illegal unless supplied by a pharmacist “on prescription” or obtained through an approved Therapeutic Goods Administration process.

Residents who suspect that illicit tobacco is being grown or sold can confidentially report it to the ATO online at ato.gov.au/tipoff or phone [phone].