NSW Police arrest teenagers after allegedly finding illicit tobacco following truck rollover on Pacific Highway near Tucabia

Police have allegedly discovered more than $500,000 worth of illegal tobacco in a truck that had rolled in northern NSW.

Boxes of allegedly illicit tobacco in a truck that rolled on the Pacific Highway on Sunday morning. Picture: NSW Police

Police have allegedly discovered more than $500,000 worth of illegal tobacco in a truck that had rolled in northern NSW.

Officers claim to have discovered 125 boxes of loose-leaf tobacco, weighing about 2.5 tonnes, when they were called to the scene on the Pacific Highway near Tucabia, east of Grafton, about 4am on Sunday.

In a statement, NSW Police said the truck had left the road before rolling onto its side.

Both of the vehicle’s occupants - two 19-year-old men - were able to get out of the truck uninjured.

“However, when the truck was checked, 125 boxes containing loose-leaf tobacco was discovered,” the statement said.

“The boxes weighed in at about 2.5 tonnes which have an estimated potential street value of $500,000.

“Police have been advised this is a local excise loss of more than $1m.”

Both men were arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station, where they were each charged with dealing with proceeds of crime worth more than $100,000, possessing suspected stolen goods and conveying or possessing illicit tobacco products.

The teenager alleged to have been driving was also charged with disguising his face with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The pair were refused bail to face Grafton Local Court on Monday.