Tough new laws lead to largest seizure of illegal tobacco, 148 stores closed

Toowoomba’s nicotine addicts are struggling to find cheap cigarettes and vapes as the last black market stores are either raided or closing voluntarily as part of the Queensland Government’s blitz.

TS Top Tobacconist in Russell Street is closed.

Dozens of vape stores across the Darling Downs have closed in the two weeks since the Queensland Government passed tough new laws targeting the retailers’ landlords.

Officers from the Darling Downs Health Public Health Unit have issued 90 interim closure notices to 10 stores that they believe are selling illegal tobacco and nicotine vapes.

They include AJ Tobacconist Warwick, Master Tobacconist Kingaroy, Outback Tobacconist Dalby, Roma Gift Store, Tobacco Hut Warwick, Top of the Range Convenience, Town Tobacco and Gifts Kingaroy, Wisam Gift Shop, and Wyalla Gifts and Tobacconist.

Added to this, several stores that have previously been subject to interim closures have closed voluntarily, ceased selling illegal tobacco, or are operating with reduced hours.

Wyalla Gifts and Tobacconist in Newtown is closed for 90 days after a crackdown on the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco.

They include St Tobacco at the Red Edge Shopping Centre, and TS Top in Russell Street.

The crackdown was part of a statewide operation that seized more than $15.7 million worth of illegal vapes, cigarettes and loose tobacco.

In total, 148 Queensland stores were issued with three-month closure orders, and more than 11.8 million cigarettes, 1.7 tonnes of loose tobacco, 87,000 vapes, 4.2 litres of vaping liquid and 270,000 nicotine pouches were seized.

Wyalla Gifts and Tobacconist in Newtown is closed for 90 days after a crackdown on the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco.

Under the new laws, Queensland Health has the power to shut stores for 90 days without a court order.

They can also fine landlords up to $166,000 for allowing illegal sales at their premises.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the operation was a “staggering success”

“In the first 10 days of these tough new laws taking effect, our public health officers, with the support of police, ruthlessly targeted these criminals selling illegal chop chop and dangerous vapes.

“This historic action sends a clear message that Queensland will not tolerate businesses peddling illegal, addictive and dangerous vapes and tobacco in our community.”

The market in illegal tobacco has skyrocketed across Australia in the past four years with it accounting for 60-80 per cent of all tobacco consumed.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it can no longer reliably measure smoking rates, under its current modelling because the trade is underground.

The Cancer Council’s Tobacco in Australia report estimated that up to $6.411 billion was lost in excise revenue in 2023–24, attributed to consumers moving away from legal tobacco.

Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Association president Dr Danielle McMullen said the unchecked market in illegal tobacco had undermined public health.

“We are seeing suboptimal enforcement in some jurisdictions, gaps in supply chain controls and inadequate licensing provisions and monitoring,” she said.

“We need a comprehensive and fully resourced enforcement strategy to tackle the illegal tobacco trade.”