‘Zero tolerance’: 350 traders probed over alleged illegal tobacco trade

As police crackdown on crimes linked to tobacco shops, Queensland Health revealed it has issued 460 fines totalling $5.5m since July 2023.

Queensland Health is investigating the supply of illegal tobacco products at more than 350 retailers.

Queensland Health is investigating the supply of illegal tobacco products at more than 350 retailers, including tobacconists, convenience stores, gift shops and petrol stations.

As police crack down on crimes linked to tobacco shops, Queensland Health revealed to The Courier Mail in October it had issued 460 fines totalling $5.5m since July 2023.

Queensland Health officers have special powers to fine businesses found supplying or possessing illicit tobacco.

It is also understood approximately 40 per cent (2020) of smoking product supplier licenses issued in Queensland have been issued to retailers and wholesalers in the greater Brisbane area.

Queensland Health cracking down on illegal tobacco products across Brisbane Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Six South East Queensland tobacconists have been targeted in criminal attacks since September - including break-ins and arson - and 16 targeted since March.

Shops at Marsden, Mount Warren Park and Runcorn had been targeted in the past month, including one rammed with a car and set on fire.

A Marsden gift shop was hit twice - it was rammed with a Range Rover on October 1 before being broken into again on October 4.

The Courier Mail understands the business sells tobacco products, with one shopper showing the publication a packet of cigarettes they had purchased in the store. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the business, or anyone who works there.

In a statement, Queensland Health said the illegal tobacco and nicotine products trade was a nationwide problem and its currently investigating 350 retailers.

About 440 petrol stations, convenience stores, gift shops and tobacconists were targeted during the three-month crackdown from July this year.

“In Queensland, we have a zero-tolerance approach to illegal vaping and tobacco products,” it said.

“Our strict illicity tobacco law, backed by harsh penalties, have been effective at stopping the sale of millions of illegal tobacco and vaping products in Queensland.”

Under new laws, retailers supplying and possessing illegal tobacco and vapes face up to two years’ jail and/or court penalties of up to $322,600 for individuals or $1.6m for a coropration.

Since the supply of illicity tobacco become an offence uner Queensland law in June 2023, 24 million cigarettes and nine tonnes of loose tobacco have been seized in Queensland. This includes 220,000 vapes seized in the same period.

“To distrupt the illegal supply of tobacco and vapes, Queensland Health also partners with the Theraputic Good Adminstration, the Queensland Police Service, and the Australian Boarder Foce’s Illicit Tobacco Taskforce,” the Queensland Health statement said.

Teens are getting hooked on tiny pouches that can be up to 20 times the strength of a cigarette. Photo: supplied

The Sunday Mail in October visited several tobacco shops and saw brands of “snus” openly displayed. Snus claims to be an “upgrade from vaping”.