Illegal tobacco, vapes Qld: $21m worth seized in ‘chop shop’ raids

A record number of illicit tobacco and vape products have been seized in the largest crackdown ever conducted by a health authority in the country.

Some of the illegal tobacco and vape products seized in the operation

A record number of illicit tobacco and vape products have been seized in just one week, with an estimated street value of $20.8m.

Operation Appaloosa, led by Queensland Health and supported by Queensland Police Service and the Therapeutic Goods Administration, seized 76,000 vapes, 19m illicit cigarettes and 3.6 tonnes of loose illicit tobacco.

More than 30 locations were raided across the Wide Bay, Metro North, Metro South, Central Queensland and West Moreton health districts, with the state government saying it was the largest crackdown ever conducted by a health authority in the country.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls said it was just the latest crackdown on illegal “chop shops”.

“We’re stepping up the war against dangerous illegal vapes making their way into the hands of Queensland kids, with serious fines and more enforcement,” he said.

“We’re hitting these illegal traders where it hurts most, by seizing their illicit goods to deprive them of generating a profit and hitting them with the nation’s toughest fines.

“This is the latest in our crackdown on illegal chop shops, and we’ll continue to target this organised crime and keep dangerous vapes out of the hands of kids.”

Mr Nicholls on Tuesday said enforcement and collaboration between Queensland Health, QPS and Australian Border Force was key in combating the explosion of illegal tobacco operators.

“We will be doing more enforcement so that we can crack down on them, there are over 5000 licensed tobacco retailers here in Queensland, and we think there’s probably maybe 600 or 700 that ... Queensland Health are aware of illegal operators, and we’ve got a number of those under active monitoring, and we’ll continue to monitor those and continue to crack down,” he said.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls. Picture: John Gass

When asked on how the government was plugging holes in the legislation where businesses doing the right thing are being raided, Mr Nicholls said it would look at what changes might be available in the current legislation.

“We are starting the work that should have been started years ago in cracking down on these illegal operators, and we will continue to do that,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot more work to do, that’s why we’ve got legislation in the House, that’s why we’re looking at other issues in respect of that legislation.

“We’re focusing directly on breaking the financial incentive, the financial reward that these traders, these Illegal traders, have to make money.”

Since the LNP government was elected last October 237,325 vapes, 29,896,794 illicit cigarettes and 5.8 tonnes of illegal loose tobacco have been seized.

It comes after the Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced to Parliament in March, with changes to the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998 to fast-track the destruction of illegal vapes and force offenders to pay back costs associated with enforcement and prosecution.

The Bill is set to be debated during the next Parliament sitting, which begins on May 20.

On April 3, on-the-spot fines were increased tenfold for individuals and corporations caught selling illegal tobacco and nicotine products in Queensland.

More than $5m in fines were issued to illegal traders in the first week of the fines coming into effect.

“Under Labor these organised crime gangs were allowed to set up illegal chop shops across Queensland, putting our kids at risk,” he said.

Individuals can get fines of up to $32,260, while a corporation caught selling illicitly tobacco and vapes could be fined $161,300, which is the highest penalties in Australia.

The laws also allow fines to be issued for the commercial possession and supply of vapes and nicotine pouches (also known as zyn).

A special investigation by The Courier-Mail last month revealed transnational and interstate criminal syndicates were standing over Queensland tobacconists, forcing them to pay “protection”, close up, or sell illicit cigarettes against the threat of having their shops burnt down.

Some of the illegal tobacco and vape products seized in the operation