Three Townsville tobacconists shut down for 90 days under tough new laws
Several Townsville tobacconists have been hit with 90-day closures as Queensland's crackdown on the illegal tobacco trade intensifies with enforcement raids. See which shops were stung.
Multiple Townsville tobacconists have been lit up by tougher laws targeting rogue tobacco and vape traders which recently came into effect, with the latest enforcement actions resulting in three retailers being suspended from trading for 90 days.
Continuing its nation leading crackdown on criminal gangs and illegal vape traders, the state government passed the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Dismantling Illegal Trade) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 in parliament last week.
Queensland Health confirmed that three tobacconists were shut down in Aitkenvale, Thuringowa Central, and Burdell on Tuesday.
They were the Aitkenvale Tobacconist at 258/260 Ross River Rd, 7up Indian Grocer (KW Tobacconist) at 32 Thuringowa Dr, and the North Shore Tobacconist at 20-38 Main St.
KW Tobacconist had relocated from 109 Thuringowa Drive, where it was also hit with a closure notice in March.
The closure notices said, “illicit tobacco or illicit nicotine products are being supplied or possessed at the premises as part of a business activity”.
A source from the tobacco industry said one of the stores had planned to circumvent the closure and reopen.
“These are the things they’re going to do, another illicit shop has told everyone that we’re open but we’ve got no stock, and we won’t have stock for a week until they come and raid us, and once they’ve raided us we’ll get stock back in our shop,” they said.
The source added that the illegal traders were “getting crafty”.
Townsville Public Health Unit director Damien Farrington confirmed that environmental health officers from the Townsville Public Health Unit had worked with other state agencies to carry out inspections at several premises across the Townsville region suspected of selling illicit tobacco products.
“A number of items were seized during the inspections and 90-day closure orders were issued to non-compliant businesses,” Mr Farrington said.
“This is an issue the Townsville Public Health Unit takes very seriously.
“We remain committed to ongoing enforcement to reduce harm and uphold the integrity of Queensland’s tobacco laws.”
Police Minister Dan Purdie said that organised crime has seen a big profit in that market.
He said through Operation Masher, the Queensland Police was making sure they crack down on illicit tobacco operators.
“When we have profits in the market, and it’s unregulated, organised crime does take advantage of that,” Mr Purdie said.
“We’ve seen that right across the country, we’ve seen that right across Queensland, and I acknowledge the Health Minister just last week passing legislation to crack down on that because we need to nip that in the bud the best we can.”
Under the strengthened laws, Queensland Health is able to shut down illegal businesses for three months (up from three days) without having to go through lengthy court processes.
It was able to seize all lawful smoking products found at illegal stores that are “tainted” by being supplied or stored alongside illicit tobacco and vapes, including confectionery, food and other goods including nitrous oxide bulbs and canisters (nangs).
Queensland Health officers can conduct undercover operations at illicit tobacco and vape stores, and landlords have new powers to terminate leases when notified their tenant was an illegal operator.
It was also now a criminal offence for commercial landlords to knowingly permit illegal tobacco or activity, with a maximum penalty of a $166,900 fine and 12 months in jail.
More Coverage
Originally published as Three Townsville tobacconists shut down for 90 days under tough new laws
Join the conversation
Ex-Bronco Josh McGuire charged with strangulation, assault
Read more
North Queensland leaders pipe up over environmental deal
Read more