More than 23,000 packets of cigarettes and almost 5,000 vapes have been seized by Tasmanian authorities in a major crackdown on illegal tobacco.
The haul, estimated to be worth around $1.5 million, was uncovered during a recent joint operation targeting black-market supply chains across the state.
Led by Public Health Services in partnership with several other agencies, the operation also turned up 112 kilograms of loose tobacco.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Roger Jaensch described the seizure as “significant” for Tasmania.
“The seizure was a collaborative inter-agency effort that demonstrated the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to taking strong action to prevent the harms of smoking and vaping,” Jaensch said.
“We are working proactively to enforce legislation regulating the legal sale and supply of tobacco and vaping products and interrupt the supply of illicit smoking products.”
To support the crackdown, 6.7 full-time equivalent compliance officers are being brought on board to focus specifically on illegal tobacco.
All seized products will be destroyed, with details of the bust shared with the Australian Border Force.
The Department of Health is also working closely with Biosecurity Tasmania and Australia Post to tighten controls and prevent more illicit products from slipping into the state.
