Police have seized more than $1.7 million worth of vapes and illegal tobacco and more than $80k cash following a truck stop on the states Far North last week.
About 4.30pm on Friday 25 April, police at Far North Local Service Area, Traffic Services Branch and Serious and Organised Crime Branch stopped a refrigerated truck at Port Augusta at a drug transit route operation at Port Augusta.
Police spoke with the occupants of the truck and searched the truck where they located and seized in excess of $1.74 million in vapes, $26,000 in loose tobacco and $80,100 cash.
The seizure resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old man and a 62-year-old man both from New South Wales, they were charged with unlawful possession and possession of tobacco products for sale. Both men appeared in Port Augusta Magistrates court on 28 April where they were remanded in custody to next appear in court on 1 July.
The refrigerated truck has been seized and will be the subject of confiscations proceedings.
Operation Eclipse have taken carriage of the investigation which is ongoing.
Operation Eclipse Commander, Detective Chief Inspector Brett Featherby said, “The seizure demonstrates the risk to syndicates should they seek to transport illicit tobacco through South Australia to other states.
“Organised crime syndicates transporting illicit tobacco through transit routes in regional areas will be subject to a whole of SAPOL response to disrupt their criminal activity and financial operations.
“SAPOL will pursue criminal charges when sufficient evidence exists and that includes those who are supporting and enabling that activity and take every opportunity to enforce the full extent of the confiscations legislation to seize assets of those involved,” he said.
Operation Eclipse has so far resulted in 35 arrests for offences including blackmail, possess tobacco products for sale, arson, money laundering and serious criminal trespass.
There have been 184 premises searched – 47 residential, 123 businesses and 14 storage facilities – in excess of $2.2 million in cash, three firearms and $17.97 million in tobacco products.
Significantly, there have been 394 calls to Crime Stoppers since 2 October that have resulted in information being provided to police.
Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Andrea Michaels MP said, “This is a significant win in our fight against illicit tobacco and vapes with the biggest seizure of illegal vapes to date.
“As a result, we now have 35,000 less vapes headed to illegal tobacco stores to damage people’s health and line the coffers of criminals.
“The Malinauskas Government will not tolerate the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes in our community.
“No matter where you are operating in South Australia, if you are selling or importing illicit tobacco and vapes, you will be caught and subject to some of the toughest penalties in Australia,” she said.
Anyone with any information on criminal activities surrounding the sale of illicit tobacco is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimstopperssa.com.au – You can remain anonymous.
