iscover Illicit tobacco seizure shuts down major Qld criminal syndicate
RegulationOne of Australia’s biggest illicit tobacco criminal syndicates has been crushed by the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce as the fight against illicit tobacco continues.
The ABF-led Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF) has seized a huge haul of illicit tobacco, cigarettes and vapes in Queensland, halting the operations of a major criminal syndicate.
In a joint statement from the ATO, ABF, Gold Coast Public Health Unit, AUSTRAC and ACIC, it was noted that the organised crime group was part of a network suspected of illegal tobacco importation, distribution, storage, transport and money laundering.
The investigation into the group commenced in February 2025 under Operation Bear as it was believed the criminal group presented a significant threat to the Australian community.
On 20 August 2025, a search warrant was executed at a residential property in Tallai, Queensland and seven storage sheds in Carrara, Queensland, by officers from the ABF, ATO. Gold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Joint Organised Crime Taskforce and Queensland Police Service Taskforce Masher.
From the searches of the two locations, 7.5 million cigarette sticks, 218 kilograms of loose tobacco, 1 cash counting machine, nine kilograms of rollable tobacco pouches, 1,890 cigars and over $40,000 were seized.
In addition to this, over 26,000 vaping devices, over 500 vaping accessories and over seven litres of vaping liquid, all with a combined estimated street value of more than $1,325,000, were also seized.
Ken McKern, Illicit Tobacco and Vape Enforcement commander, said the seizure of the goods shut down the criminal operations and disrupted the group’s criminal activity, sending a clear message to the criminals behind the syndicate.
“Our intelligence-led taskforce brings together agencies and takes a collaborative approach to identifying, disrupting, and destroying the operations these criminals are running,” he said.
“This is a major result for the ABL-led ITTF, and the close collaboration and intelligence sharing between agencies has yielded significant results and I congratulate all officers and agencies involved. Border enforcement is only one part of the response to this growing threat, and we hope this outcome shows the ABF's dedication and capability to detect, seize, investigate and bring down the criminals behind illicit tobacco getting into the country.”
It was noted that growing levels of vape use in young people were “extremely concerning” and the number of Queensland high school students vaping tripled between 2017 and 2023, highlighting the importance of continuing the crackdown on these products.
Jade Hawkins, ATO assistant commissioner, said the investigations into the alleged illicit tobacco network were ongoing.
“Significant results such as this would not be possible without the sharing of information and capabilities from the agencies involved,” she said.
“The ATO is tackling illicit tobacco to ensure these funds are put into essential community services rather than the hands of organised crime.”
Imogen Wilson
Imogen Wilson is a journalist at Accountants Daily and Accounting Times, the leading sources of news, insight, and educational content for professionals in the accounting sector. Imogen is also the host of the Accountants Daily Podcasts, Under the Hood and Accountants Daily Insider.
Previously, Imogen has worked in broadcast journalism at NOVA 93.7 Perth and Channel 7 Perth. She has multi-platform experience in writing, radio, TV presenting, podcast hosting and production.
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