NewsBite

Tobacco

Advertisement
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls said a 10-day blitz to crackdown on illegal vapes and tobaccos across Queensland has led to the closure of 148 stores and seized $15.7 million worth of illegal products.

$15m in goods seized, 148 Qld stores closed during 10-day tobacco blitz

The statewide crackdown was the largest-ever operation against illicit tobacco and vape retailers in Australia.

  • Courtney Kruk

Latest

Illegal cigarettes on the black market are on the rise.

‘Is this Soviet Russia?’ Australia is getting smoked by its tobacco fail

The underground trade in illegal tobacco has become a growing cancer for the Australian economy. It’s now so large that it is distorting our national accounts because its sales can’t be measured.

  • Elizabeth Knight
The fire in Orelia is being treated as suspicious.

WA Police link Orelia shop fire to illegal tobacco, vape sales

A shop in Perth’s south was badly damaged after a car drove into the storefront in the early hours of Friday morning before bursting into flames.

  • Michael Philipps
Maytham Hamad had his flash Mount Pleasant apartment raided and Lamborghinis seized last week as part of a police investigation into an alleged illegal tobacco and money laundering operation. Pictures: WA Police

Bid to keep alleged WA tobacco boss’ court hearing under wraps

Maytham Hamad, the brother of exiled crime boss Kazem Hamad, was arrested last week and remains in Hakea Prison after being accused of running a “commercial scale” illegal tobacco operation.

  • Rebecca Peppiatt
Maytham Hamad

Brother of gangland boss Kaz Hamad arrested in WA anti-money laundering operation

Maytham Hamad was arrested following a major money laundering investigation into the nation’s biggest illicit tobacco cartel.

  • Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
Sydney stores raided as NSW cracks down on illegal tobacco.

Up in smoke: NSW Labor closes Sydney stores in illegal tobacco raids

NSW Labor has started the first of its raids on stores selling illegal tobacco. 

  • Alexandra Smith
Advertisement
The NSW government has closed two stores in north Sydney under tough new laws to crack down on illegal tobaccco.
Video icon3:16

Sydney stores raided as NSW cracks down on illegal tobacco.

The NSW government has closed two stores in north Sydney under tough new laws to crack down on illegal tobaccco.

Alibarbar brand vapes seized from a container ship in July 2025.

The deported kingpin, the Chinese gang and the vape brand controlling an Australian black market

Intelligence shows notorious kingpin Kazem “Kaz” Hamad has partnered a China-based crime group to command the entire supply chain of illegal vapes flooding the Australian market.

  • Chris Vedelago
Hossein Al Mansouri and Mousa Al Mansouri appeared in Perth Magistrates Court.

Perth brothers face court over massive illegal tobacco seizure

Two brothers from WA have been arrested and charged after more than five tonnes of illicit cigarettes, vapes and loose tobacco were discovered in a warehouse in Perth’s northern suburbs.

  • Rebecca Peppiatt
Illicit tobacco

Byron blitz allegedly nabs weapons, millions of dollars worth of illicit tobacco and vapes

Four people have been charged after police allegedly uncovered a network funnelling criminal profits through retail tobacco fronts on the NSW North Coast.

  • Daniel Lo Surdo and Riley Walter

Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/topic/tobacco-jqw