Agents raid multiple tobacco shops to crackdown on chop chop, imported cigarettes and vapes
A major crackdown has occurred to disrupt the black market trade in the Southern Downs with health officials executing raids on several stores this week, seizing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of products.
Regional News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Regional News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Multiple tobacconists across the Southern Downs have been raided by health officials, with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of allegedly illegal products seized.
A raid by Darling Downs Public Health Unit executed on Wednesday, December 11, saw three stores across Warwick targeted by the department.
It is understood the unit was there to carry out inspections at the three tobacco retailers in the Rose City, and allegedly found illegal items during their search.
A total of 160,361 cigarettes, 47.8kg of loose tobacco, 2586 nicotine vapes and 196 bongs were seized as part of these inspections, equating to more than $260,000 worth of illicit items.
A Darling Downs Health spokesperson said the Public Health Unit has a responsibility, in the interest of public safety, to undertake proactive and targeted responses to breaches of smoking product laws, including vapes, as the sale of non-regulated products presents a health risk to the community.
Darling Downs Health and their officers are adamant they will continue to respond to complaints and carry out proactive and targeted responses under the Tobacco and Other Smoke Products Act 1998.
Warwick police confirmed they did not execute the raid and have no further involvement in dealing with the matter, as the powers to do so now fell to the health department.
If you suspect that tobacco or other nicotine products are being sold illegally, please report it via 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or online at https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/topics/atod/smoking-laws/penalties/reporting-a-possible-breach-of-smoking-laws.
More Coverage
Originally published as Agents raid multiple tobacco shops to crackdown on chop chop, imported cigarettes and vapes
‘Come and say it to my face’: New MP’s challenge to trolls
A fed-up first-term MP says community leaders must call out online trolls after posting then deleting a confrontational post.
Police release CCTV in public appeal for missing Queensland mum
New information has come to light surrounding the movements of a missing regional Queensland mother, who hasn’t been seen or heard from since February 2. Footage and update here.