07/01/2025
Criminal gangs have become involved in the sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes despite numerous police raids, according to the Queensland Government.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said around 350-400 stores, some of which were “repeat offenders”, were currently under surveillance by Queensland Health.
“But it’s not enough, we need to do more,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The on-the-spot fines are not acting as a deterrent — we know that the criminal gangs make a huge amount of money and there needs to be a deterrent.
“We need to hit them where it hurts most, and that is financially.”
The Health Minister said 8.7 million illicit cigarettes, 2.6 tonnes of loose tobacco, almost 44,500 illegal vapes, and 21,000 nicotine patches had been seized in Queensland since the beginning of the financial year.
Mr Nicholls has been in discussions with the Attorney General “to discuss what we can do” to crackdown on the illegal trade.
“At the moment, the maximum fine that can be issued on the spot by one of our officers is just over $3,200, and the maximum for a corporation is just over $10,000,” Mr Nicholls said.
“At the rate that they’re selling these vapes and illicit tobacco, that is just a drop in the ocean.”