Angry smokers fuming after chop chop raids dry up cheap tobacco in Logan

Angry smokers have been left fuming after supplies of cheap tobacco dried up over the weekend following a police sting across Logan last week.

Angry smokers have been left fuming after supplies of cheap tobacco dried up over the weekend following a police sting across Logan last week.

At least three Logan tobacconists were inundated with angry smokers on Friday afternoon looking to buy cheap tobacco, known on the market as chop chop.

Two tobacconists, who were raided by police last week, were still open but only trading as general convenience stores, selling some tailor-made cigarettes at market prices.

Police swooped on 12 Logan premises on Tuesday charging five men and confiscating tonnes of tobacco, nicotine vapes, thousands of packets of cigarettes and cash.

The raids were part of an Australian Taxation Office operation to stub out businesses avoiding paying tax on imported tobacco.

A bag of illegally imported tobacco in NSW.

In Australia, it is illegal to grow, manufacture or produce tobacco without an excise licence and it is also illegal to import without paying customs duty, which is $1576.57 per kilogram.

Anyone convicted of growing tobacco illegally faces up to 10 years in jail.

Over 15 minutes on Friday, more than 15 people were observed entering a Logan shop looking for cheap tobacco.

All were turned away and left the shop without purchasing any goods.

A store manager said the business had changed hands less than two weeks before the raids.

He said the supermarket could be hit with “big fines” under pending court charges.

Another store had a line up of customers with more than six people at a time waiting inside to be served.

A man serving behind the counter told those waiting that there was no cheap tobacco in his shop and his entire stocks of tobacco and cigarettes had been seized.

One customer said she would start a petition to remove the tax on tobacco imports.

“This is just revenue making for the federal government and I am paying for it,” she said.

“My wage has not gone up in five years but my rent has and now tobacco is doubling in price.

“The cigarettes sold at Coles and Woolworths have a terrible taste and are just a rip off.”

Premises at Beenleigh, Springwood, Slacks Creek, Rochedale South, Logan Central, Marsden, Waterford and Heritage Park netted 4.5 tonnes of tobacco, 114,732 packets of cigarettes, 150,000 nicotine vapes and $900,000 in cash.

Five men were charged and police said the seized tobacco was worth $24 million.

Excise duty on that quantity of tobacco could be more than $10 million.

A Logan tobacconist, who could not be named but was not part of last week’s raids, said he had spent the past two years trying to eke out a living while an illegal tobacco syndicate undercut the market.

A file photo showing what chop chop looks like.

He said he was relieved to hear of last week’s raids across Logan but said he believed the sting was only a temporary measure.

“I am part of a franchise — you will never see a franchise selling cheap tobacco.

“I hope the illegal tobacconists are closed down for good.”

ATO Assistant Commissioner Ian Read said most illegal tobacco operations were run by organised criminal syndicates who used the proceeds to fund criminal behaviour well beyond the sale of illegal tobacco.

“Retailers choosing to become involved in the sale of illegal tobacco gain an unfair price advantage over small business,” he said.

“Removing illicit tobacco from crop to shop creates a level playing field and also helps to stop organised crime syndicates from funding other activities.”

The raids resulted in a 54-year-old Springwood man being charged with possessing dangerous drugs, possession of more than 100kg of tobacco and dealing with money suspected of being proceeds.

A Rochedale South man, 55, was charged with possession of more than 100kg of tobacco, importing tobacco with intent to defraud and dealing with money suspected of being proceeds.

Both are due to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on July 15.

A Park Ridge South man, 36, was charged with supplying tobacco in non-compliant packaging and possession of a regulated poison.

A North Lakes man, 32, was also charged with supplying tobacco in non-compliant packaging and possession of a regulated poison.

Both are due to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on July 19.

A 32-year-old Heritage Park man was charged with possession of a regulated poison and more than 100kg of tobacco. He is scheduled to appear at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on July 28.

Police said they expected more arrests.

The swoop followed raids in May on a Kuraby business and Logan Reserve residential address where police allegedly found about 1.5 tonnes of loose-leaf tobacco, 110,000 packets of imported cigarettes, and 100,000 vapes containing nicotine.

A 57-year-old Kuraby man was arrested at the Kuraby address and charged with possession of more than 500kg of tobacco, possession of more than 100kg of tobacco, importation of tobacco with intent to defraud and unlawful possession of a weapon.

He is scheduled to appear at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on June 29.