Operation SHORTHAND Disrupts Illicit Tobacco Supply.
More than 100 service stations across Australia have been raided in a major coordinated operation targeting the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes.
The Australian Border Force and 15 federal and state agencies swept into sites in every state and territory (except Tasmania and the Northern Territory) on Tuesday as part of Operation Shorthand.
The raids, run under the Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group, focused on suspected criminal activity and the alleged sale of black-market cigarettes and vaping products.
Australian Border Force Assistant Commissioner Tony Smith said criminals were shifting their tactics:
“Criminal actors are continuing to adapt their business models and diversify their activities by moving away from traditional tobacconists and into selling their products out of convenience stores, milk bars and even service stations,”
“This diversification demonstrates an enforcement pressure from border agencies and our partners across the country and internationally is forcing criminal enablers to adapt their tactics to evade detection and enforcement.”
Australian Federal Police Superintendent Jim Rowe said intelligence linked the trade to organised crime:
“We have seen organised crime groups use the sales of illicit tobacco to fund further criminal activity,”
“The aim of today’s enforcement activity for the AFP is to obtain information to help us identify the potential importation of illicit tobacco, distribution networks and how the proceeds of sales are collected and then distributed.”
Image Supplied: Australian Border Force
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the operation was about protecting legitimate businesses and the community:
“It’s not fair on legitimate small business owners, it’s not fair on the community or young children that these stores are popping up and are selling illegal products across the board.”
Footage from one raid showed officers seizing boxes of imported tobacco and cash:
(Video Supplied by Australian Border Force)
The Australian Border Force says the operation is still ongoing while evidence is assessed. Some of the targeted stations may be closed temporarily.
Metro Petroleum has confirmed nine of its independently operated sites received closure orders.
The company said it has a zero-tolerance approach to illicit tobacco and vapes and has already begun terminating arrangements with those operators. A Metro spokesperson said the company does not run the retail side of the business and receives no share of non-fuel sales. It acts immediately when it becomes aware of unlawful conduct, including terminating leases and reporting matters to authorities.
The Motor Trades Association of Australia welcomed the enforcement action, saying it supports the Australian Border Force and police in upholding the law.
Although this particular operation excluded Tasmania and the Northern Territory the message from authorities is still clear. The nationwide pressure on the illegal tobacco and vapes trade is only increasing so any operators around th country involved in black-market sales should expect similar actiom regardless of what state they try to operate in.
More details about the operation can be found here: Operation SHORTHAND Disrupts Illicit Tobacco Supply
