Warwick police on alert as crackdown on black market cigarettes and vapes begins

Warwick police’s campaign against the sale of illegal tobacco products and vapes has begun, with thousands of dollars of products being seized and three people assisting police with their inquiries.

Warwick police have begun a crackdown on the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, seizing thousands of items worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Last Thursday, two Palmerin St businesses were raided, with officers seizing “a large amount” of illegal imported cigarettes, chop chop (loose tobacco) and nicotine vapes.

Bystander captures Warwick police crackdown on black market cigarettes on Thursday

A Warwick Police CIB spokesman said there was significant pressure from the community, schools and parents to “crack down” on the sale of tobacco and vape products, particularly to children.

From one of the locations raided, police allegedly seized more than 1900 vapes containing nicotine, 6000 packets of illegally imported cigarettes and 300 pouches of illegal chop chop tobacco.

At another, more than 645 vapes containing nicotine, 810 packets of illegally imported cigarettes and of 3kg of illegal chop chop tobacco were allegedly seized by police.

The spokesman said the estimated value of the goods would be tens of thousands of dollars.

“We seized a large amount of illegal products from two locations in Warwick,” he said.

“These products can have damaging effects on innocent members of the local community, who touch them and trusts they are compliant.”

Thousands of nicotine vapes have been seized by Warwick police as apart of an 'ongoing' crackdown into illegal products in the area (Photo: Warwick police)

Many of the products seized by police were allegedly imported from Asia, and lack the legally required safety warnings on the packaging.

“The investigation into the sale of the illegal products in ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact police,” the police spokesman said.

The sale of the products can bring a string of charges, with offences being investigated by police including commercial sale of excisable goods, the offence to buy and possess s4 and s8 medicines or hazardous poisons, the selling or supplying of tobacco products in non-compliant retail packaging, possessing tainted property and fraud, which can all result in hefty fines or jail time.

Illegal imported cigarettes are a huge black market business, raking in thousands of dollars (Photo: Warwick Police)

It is believed three people are assisting police with their inquiries, including a 52-year-old man from Warwick who has been interviewed in relation to the commercial sale of excisable goods (tobacco products), offence to buy or possess S4 or S8 medicines or hazardous poisons, selling or supplying tobacco products in non-compliant retail packaging, possess tainted property and fraud.

Police are urging citizens to report the sale of any illegal tobacco or vape products by quoting the reference number 2300945576.

It comes as the Australian government announced it would be cracking down on the sale of illegal tobacco products and nicotine vapes.

Recreational vaping was banned by the Australian government on May 2, making it illegal to buy unless prescribed by a doctor.

A 2022 Queensland government document warned the total cost of smoking to Queensland was $27.4bn as of 2015-16 when considering a range of factors, including admissions to hospital, workplace absenteeism and premature death.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in March the new laws would streamline the enforcement of Queensland’s anti-smoking laws to make it easier for agencies to limit the availability of illegal tobacco.

“We are delivering on our commitment to take stronger action against smoking,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.