13 Wide Bay tobacco stores caught selling illegal vapes, cigarettes

From car-ramming incidents to court-ordered shutdowns, the full list of illegal tobacco traders in Bundaberg and on the Fraser Coast has been exposed in a state-first crackdown.

A statewide crackdown on tobacco stores and news agencies selling illegal cigarettes and vapes has led to the full list of offending stores being released to the public, with the northern half of the Wide Bay region featuring heavily.

Last month, the crackdown led to a state-first closure of six Hervey Bay stores, after Qld Health took matters to the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

The matters of Mohammad Alfalahi, the owner of Hervey Bay Tobacconist and Gifts, Quattro Liuzzi Pty Ltd, Orsay Holdings Pty Ltd, Hardric Pty Ltd, and Imegra Pty Ltd, and Adam Ayser, who owns Shams and Yaseen Pty Ltd, were heard before Maryborough Magistrates Court on Friday, July 25.

Wide Bay tobacco stores that sold illegal goods were only found in the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie ordered the businesses be closed for a period of six months, as requested in the application made by Qld Health.

Raids conducted on the stores by authorities on June 17 led to the alleged seizure of 70kg of loose tobacco, 480,000 cigarettes and 176 vapes.

New stats released by the Courier Mail show what stores in the state have been selling illegal products

Gympie and the Burnett were two of only a few regions to have no stores named on the list, but the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg were found to have over ten stores selling illegal goods.

Check out the names of the stores on the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg found to be selling illegal products and where they are located.

Hervey Bay

Pialba Tobacconist and Vape - 139 Boat Harbour Dr, Urraween

Sold: “Chop chop”, also known as loose leaf tobacco, and cigarettes without the correct packaging.

Marina Tobacconist - 11 Buccanneer Dr, Urangan

Sold: Loose-leaf tobacco and cigarettes without the correct packaging.

Hervey Bay Tobacconist and Gifts was involved in a car ramming incident earlier this year.

Hervey Bay Tobacconist and Gifts - 431 Esplanade, Torquay

Sold: Loose-leaf tobacco and cigarettes without the correct packaging.

Su Casa Tobacconist - 5 Torquay Rd, Pialba

Sold: Loose-leaf tobacco and cigarettes without the correct packaging.

Main St Tobacconist and Vape in Pialba was caught selling loose leaf tobacco and selling cigarettes without the correct packaging. Photo: Google

Main Street Tobacconist - 17 Main St, Pialba

Sold: Loose-leaf tobacco and cigarettes without the correct packaging.

Maryborough

Maryborough Gifts Tobacconists & Accessories - 371 Kent St, Maryborough

Sold: Loose-leaf tobacco and pre-filled tubes.

Tobacco Vape Small Goods - 353 Kent St, Maryborough 

Sold: Cigarettes without the correct packaging.

Moey’s Tobacconist & Vapes - 281 Alice St, Maryborough

Sold: Cigarettes without the correct packaging.

Moey's Tobacconist in Maryborough was caught selling cigarettes without the correct packaging. Photo: Google

Childers

Urban Tobacconist Childers - 150-152 Churchill St, Childers

Sold: Loose-leaf tobacco, cigarettes without the correct packaging, and pre-filled tubes

Bundaberg

Bundaberg Tobacconist & Gifts - 104 Bourbong St, Bundaberg Central

Sold: Loose-leaf tobacco, cigarettes without the correct packaging, and disposable vapes with or without nicotine.

Bundy Vape Tobacco Convenience - 130 Bourbong St, Bundaberg Central

Sold: Cigarettes without the correct packaging and disposable vapes with or without nicotine.

Bundy Vape Tobacco Convenience was caught selling cigarettes without the correct packaging and vapes with or without nicotine. Photo: Google user R "K" B

Bundy Tobacconist - 38A Targo St, Bundaberg Central

Sold: Cigarettes without the correct packaging and nicotine pouches.

TSG Kensington - Kensington Shopping Centre, Shop 3/130a Takalvan St, Kensington

Sold: Plain packaged tobacco products.

Originally published as 13 Wide Bay tobacco stores caught selling illegal vapes, cigarettes